Department for Transport

Motor Vehicles: Excise Duties

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 27 May 202 to Question 48265 on Motor Vehicles: Excise Duties, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of reintroducing paper licence discs.

Rachel Maclean: The abolition of the paper vehicle tax disc has delivered significant savings for the taxpayer and businesses since its removal in 2014. The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), the police and other enforcement authorities use data from the DVLA’s vehicle register to confirm that vehicle excise duty has been paid. Over £6 billion is collected annually. The Government has no plans to reinstate the paper vehicle tax disc.

Department for Transport: Buildings

Rachel Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer on 15 May 2020 to Question 43779 on Civil Servants, at how many multi-hub locations employees of his Department work together with employees of another Department or agency in London managed by the Government Property Agency; what the addresses are of those locations; and what other Departments and agencies employ staff at those locations.

Chris Heaton-Harris: I refer the Hon. member to the answer given to PQ 54314 on 12 June 2020.

Mayor of London and Transport for London

Elliot Colburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, who has been (a) present and (b) given apologies for all meetings between his Department and (i) Transport for London and (ii) the Mayor of London and Office of the Mayor of London from 1 January 2020 to date.

Rachel Maclean: Ministers and officials at the Department for Transport meet regularly with representatives of the Mayor’s office and Transport for London to discuss a wide range of topics. During the COVID 19 outbreak these meetings have necessarily increased, and are often held daily. Due to the frequency of these meetings, it would be impractical to provide a definitive list of attendees and apologies for all of these meetings.

Tolls: Greater London

Elliot Colburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what representations he has received from (a) Transport for London and (b) the Mayor of London on the potential merits of increasing the congestion charge in London.

Rachel Maclean: As part of the funding package agreed with the Mayor of London to allow Transport for London to continue operating essential services in London during the COVID 19 outbreak, the Mayor agreed to reinstate the congestion charge. The decision to temporarily increase the congestion charge was taken by the Mayor and will be considered as part of the upcoming Government lead review of TfL’s financial position.

Govia Thameslink Railway: Coronavirus

Dawn Butler: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many employees the Govia Thameslink Railway franchise have contracted covid-19.

Chris Heaton-Harris: There are 7,389 GTR employees, of these GTR has been notified of 18 cases where staff have received a positive test result for Covid 19. In addition, there are another 4 cases where employees have suspected Covid-19, however this has not yet been confirmed through testing.

Govia Thameslink Railway: Coronavirus

Dawn Butler: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many and what proportion of employees of the Govia Thameslink Railway franchise that have contracted covid-19 are from a BAME background.

Chris Heaton-Harris: GTR confirm that of the 18 employee cases, 6 employees self-reported as being from a BAME background.

Railways: Coronavirus

Dawn Butler: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to help conduct risk assessments for rail franchises to protect vulnerable staff.

Chris Heaton-Harris: We have been clear that our priority remains the safety of staff and passengers. We have issued comprehensive guidance to employers on the steps they should take to make their workplaces COVID-secure, which outlines measures to assess and address the risks of coronavirus in the transport sector across England. Employers should conduct risk assessments and, in collaboration with employees, identify workplace risks, including those to people classed as clinically vulnerable and extremely vulnerable. All guidance documents are available on the government website at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/coronavirus-covid-19-list-of-guidance.

Railways: Coronavirus

Dawn Butler: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what guidance he has issued to  rail franchises on the use of PPE in the workplace.

Chris Heaton-Harris: Keeping transport workers and passengers safe is of paramount importance as we continue to scale up services across the transport network as part of the restart. The Department has held roundtables and meetings at all levels with operators across the transport sector in the response to COVID-19, including to support with the implementation of the Government’s PPE plan published in April. Public Health England guidance has been clear that there is very little scientific evidence of widespread benefit from personal protective equipment outside of health and social care settings. Guidance on cleaning of non-healthcare settings and shipping and sea ports and how PPE may be used in these contexts has been published in February and March respectively. The Department has worked with and continues to work with operators to ensure they can meet the PPE needs as set out in this guidance. Throughout the response, the Department has worked with the sector to support with effective implementation of key measures of social distancing and good hand and respiratory hygiene in transport settings.

Govia Thameslink Railway: Coronavirus

Dawn Butler: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, on what date the Govia Thameslink Railway franchise provide protective visors for staff in each station on that franchise.

Chris Heaton-Harris: GTR is currently trialling the use of visors. Before it can issue visors to employees, GTR must first of all ensure that the use of a visor will not affect or inhibit the ability of employees to complete their duties safely.

Govia Thameslink Railway: Coronavirus

Dawn Butler: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what health surveillance procedures are in place at Govia Thameslink Railway franchise, to identify (a) sick, (b) asymptomatic and (c) vulnerable employees.

Chris Heaton-Harris: GTR is one of a small number of train operators with an in-house Occupational Health team, and the only operator with its own Chief Medical Officer. Under normal circumstances GTR would identify these through pre-employment medicals, statutory periodic medicals, any employee referrals to the team from line managers and more ad-hoc health surveillance. Since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, the Occupational Health team has offered a direct nurse telephone advisory service for employees and a dedicated ‘Covid referral system’ for managers to request specialist advice in regards to employees they manage.

Travel: Coronavirus

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether UK residents are required to self-isolate prior to travelling overseas during the covid-19 outbreak; and if so, for how long should UK residents so self-isolate.

Kelly Tolhurst: There is no requirement for UK residents to self-isolate prior to travelling overseas. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) advises British nationals against all but essential international travel. It is advised to check the FCO’s travel advice page regularly for further information.

Bus Services and Taxis: Coronavirus

Mr Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the review published by Public Health England on 2 June 2020 entitled Disparities in the risk and outcomes of covid-19, what steps he is taking to increase protections against covid-19 for (a) taxi drivers and (b) bus drivers in (i) the West Midlands and (ii) the UK.

Rachel Maclean: On 12 May, the Government published guidance for passengers and transport operators to help them keep themselves and their staff safe, including how social distancing rules should be interpreted to do this. The Department is working with transport providers, their representative groups, and local authorities across England as they seek to implement this guidance. This guidance will be kept up-to-date as restrictions on travel change.As the Prime Minister announced on 10 June, the Government will be expanding targeted testing of occupations and groups at higher risk, including those individuals working in front line jobs, which bring them regularly into close contact with the public. This will help us learn more about who is at higher risk and how the virus is spread.

Railways: Coronavirus

Dawn Butler: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will collate statistics on the number of employees in the rail industry by rail franchise who have died of covid-19.

Chris Heaton-Harris: The industry collates the number of railway workers who have died with COVID-19. The latest figures indicate a total of 10 workers employed by Network Rail and Train Operating Companies have regrettably passed away.

London Underground: Coronavirus

Dawn Butler: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will collate statistics on the number of London Underground workers by station at which those workers were based who have died of covid-19.

Rachel Maclean: My thoughts are with those who have sadly died with Covid-19 and their families and friends at this difficult time. As transport in London is devolved to the Mayor of London and delivered by Transport for London (TfL), it is TfL that is best placed to provide information regarding the number of London Underground workers who have died of Covid-19.

Electric Scooters: West Midlands

Stuart Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress he has made on the roll-out of e-scooter trials in the West Midlands.

Rachel Maclean: The Department is accelerating trials of rental e-scooters that will assess their safety and the impacts they have on the road. We will soon lay regulations to enable trials. We are working with local authorities to develop their delivery plans for trials, including with authorities in the West Midlands.

Taxis: Coronavirus

Mike Amesbury: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what guidance he is issuing to local authorities on supporting the safety of taxi and private hire drivers during the covid-19 outbreak.

Rachel Maclean: On 12 May, the Department for Transport issued guidance to transport operators to help organisations, agencies and others (such as self-employed transport providers) understand how to provide safer workplaces and services for themselves, their workers and passengers across all modes of private and public transport. The Department for Transport has also contacted all licensing authorities in England and other sector stakeholders to highlight this guidance and set out its implications for the taxi and private hire vehicle trade. As the Prime Minister announced on 10 June, the Government will be expanding targeted testing of occupations and groups at higher risk, including those individuals working in front line jobs, which bring them regularly into close contact with the public. This will help us learn more about who is at higher risk and how the virus is spread.

Railways: Ashfield

Lee Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of reopening the Maid Marion Line to passengers in Selston and the rural parts of Ashfield.

Chris Heaton-Harris: I can confirm that the Department for Transport has received the expression of interest for the Maid Marian line for the Restoring Your Railway Ideas fund. Full applications now need to be submitted by the deadline of 19 June 2020. All bids will be assessed on their merit.

Public Transport: Coronavirus

Alex Sobel: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to ensure that public transport remains accessible for blind and partially sighted people during every stage of the covid-19 lockdown.

Chris Heaton-Harris: The Government remains committed to delivering inclusive transport for all passengers. Our expectation is that transport operators should continue to assist disabled passengers who need assistance, including those with sight loss, as they did before the COVID-19 pandemic. I made this clear in my open letter to the rail industry on 8 April 2020. I am also meeting regularly with key disability stakeholders, including Guide Dogs, to hear directly from them about the experiences of disabled people using transport. This means we will be able to take action quickly if we find that passengers are not receiving the assistance to which they are entitled. On 12 May, the Department published guidance for transport operators that will help organisations, agencies and others (such as self-employed transport providers) understand how to provide safer workplaces and services for themselves, their workers and passengers across all modes of private and public transport. It outlines measures to assess and address the risks of coronavirus (COVID-19) in the transport sector across England. The Department will review the guidance as the measures change, and will consider the needs of disabled people in this process.

Hong Kong: Veterans

Alex Sobel: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he (a) has made an assessment of the implications for his policies of EU plans (i) for large-scale investment in green hydrogen and (ii) to increase the number of hydrogen refueling stations and (b) plans to introduce those schemes in the UK.

Rachel Maclean: We want to utilise the UK’s high-quality engineering and manufacturing capability to ensure we are a global leader in hydrogen fuel cell powered transportation. Our approach to delivering long-term ambitions for greener transport is technology neutral and we are supporting hydrogen where the market favours its use. Our £23m Hydrogen for Transport Programme is increasing the uptake of fuel cell electric vehicles and growing the number of publicly accessible hydrogen refuelling stations. The programme is delivering new refuelling stations and upgrading some existing stations as well as deploying hundreds of new hydrogen vehicles. The Government is supporting public and private sector fleets to become early adopters through the £2m FCEV Fleet Support Scheme. In addition, £6.4m of the Low and Ultra-Low Emission Bus Scheme funding has been invested in more than 60 hydrogen buses operating in Birmingham and around Gatwick. The Office Low Emission Vehicles and the Advanced Propulsion Centre are also funding a wide range of innovation projects in hydrogen vehicles. Government is also committed to supporting innovation in the hydrogen supply chain from production to end use. The £20m BEIS Hydrogen Supply Programme aims to accelerate the development of low carbon bulk hydrogen solutions. The £20m BEIS Storage at Scale Programme aims to demonstrate innovative large-scale energy storage. Two BEIS industry funded programmes are also investigating the feasibility and safety of a hydrogen grid network.

Aviation: Coronavirus

Andrew Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with his Spanish counterpart on the potential for an air bridge permitting air travel between the UK and Spain without a quarantine being imposed on inbound travellers to the UK.

Andrew Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with his Italian counterpart on the potential for an air bridge permitting air travel between the UK and Italy without a quarantine being imposed on inbound travellers to the UK.

Andrew Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with his French counterpart on the potential for an air bridge permitting air travel between the UK and France without a quarantine being imposed on inbound travellers to the UK.

Andrew Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with his German counterpart on the potential for an air bridge permitting air travel between the UK and Germany without a quarantine being imposed on inbound travellers to the UK.

Andrew Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with his Greek counterpart on the potential for an air bridge permitting air travel between the UK and Greece without a quarantine being imposed on inbound travellers to the UK.

Andrew Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with his Cypriot counterpart on the potential for an air bridge permitting air travel between the UK and Cyprus without a quarantine being imposed on inbound travellers to the UK.

Andrew Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with his Croatian counterpart on the potential for an air bridge permitting air travel between the UK and Croatia without a quarantine being imposed on inbound travellers to the UK.

Andrew Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with his Bulgarian counterpart on the potential for an air bridge permitting air travel between the UK and Bulgaria without a quarantine being imposed on inbound travellers to the UK.

Andrew Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with the US Administration on the potential for an air bridge permitting air travel between the UK and the US without a quarantine being imposed on inbound travellers to the UK.

Andrew Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with his Portuguese counterpart on the potential for an air bridge permitting air travel between the UK and Portugal without a quarantine being imposed on inbound travellers to the UK.

Andrew Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with his Icelandic counterpart on the potential for an air bridge permitting air travel between the UK and Iceland without a quarantine being imposed on inbound travellers to the UK.

Kelly Tolhurst: The Secretary of State for Transport has had no such discussions with the Governments of those specific states about the potential for creating an air bridge with said countries. However, the Government is working closely with industry to explore this concept. This includes work with the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), airlines and airports.

Road Traffic: Noise

Andrew Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what (a) progress has been made on and (b) the preliminary results are of the acoustic camera trials announced in June 2019 to monitor traffic noise.

Rachel Maclean: The acoustic camera trial is completed and the results are awaiting publication. Preliminary indications are that the device can identify individual vehicles in certain circumstances and assign noise levels to them but further development is needed to improve accuracy. The technology has the potential to identify excessively noisy vehicles, however, there are still difficulties in measuring noise in an uncontrolled environment to be overcome.

Driving Tests: Coronavirus

John Lamont: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the number of driving tests that have not taken place as a result of the covid-19 outbreak.

Rachel Maclean: The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) estimates that over 400,000 driving tests, have not been conducted as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. This data is based on the DVSA’s original forecast of driving test demand that covers March 2020 up to the present day.

Railway Stations: Reston

John Lamont: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions he has had with the Scottish Government on the reopening of Reston station.

Chris Heaton-Harris: The promotion of railway infrastructure projects in Scotland is a matter for the Scottish Government but the new timetable that Network Rail is developing for the East Coast Main Line will make provision for stops at the proposed new stations at Reston and East Linton.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Ofgem: Judicial Review

Dr Alan Whitehead: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many times decisions by Ofgem have been subject to judicial review in (a) 2018, (b) 2019 and (c) 2020; and what the subjects were of those reviews.

Kwasi Kwarteng: The information is provided below: 2018 – challenge concerned GEMA’s decision in relation to changing the charges for certain generators to access the electricity network. Judgement in favour of GEMA in summer 2018 2018 – challenge by licensee to a direction that had been issued to them by GEMA (to take specified steps in the context of a randomised controlled collective switch trial). Concluded in 2018. Judgement in favour of GEMA in 2018. 2018 – challenge brought in Scotland against GEMA’s rejection of an application for accreditation under the Feed-in Tariffs Scheme. Judgement in favour of GEMA in 2018. 2019 – challenge to GEMA decision by an offshore wind generator that the physical failure of one of the offshore transmission owner’s (OFTO) subsea electricity cables should be treated as an Income Adjusting Event under the OFTO licence. Judgement in 2019 against GEMA. 2019 – challenge by a licensee against GEMA’s retail price cap decision. Judgement in 2019 against GEMA. 2019 – challenge relating to whether GEMA had certain powers under the Domestic Renewable Heat Scheme. GEMA were co-defendants with BEIS. Judgement in November 2019 in favour of GEMA. Application for permission to appeal was refused in 2020. To date, no judicial reviews have been carried out in 2020.

Public Houses and Social Clubs

Ian Lavery: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many pubs and social clubs were operating in (a) the UK, (b) England, (c) the North East, (d) Northumberland and (e) Wansbeck on 20 March 2020.

Paul Scully: BEIS does not hold this information. According to data from the ONS, as of March 2019 there were 30,885 pubs and bars in the UK[1]. ONS data for March 2017 shows that there were 38,935 pubs and bars in the UK. 33,045 of these were in England, 1,065 were in the North East and 255 were in Northumberland[2]. [1] https://www.ons.gov.uk/aboutus/transparencyandgovernance/freedomofinformationfoi/numberofrestaurantstakeawayscafesbarsandpubsintheuk[2] https://www.ons.gov.uk/businessindustryandtrade/business/activitysizeandlocation/adhocs/008951pubsandbarsindistrictsoftheuk2010to2017

Tourists: Coronavirus

Alexander Stafford: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department is taking to improve (a) contract terms, (b) insurance cover, (c) ABTA and ATOL arrangements and (d) other financial protections available to holidaymakers.

Paul Scully: Package travel agencies are required to comply with The Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018, which protect consumers who have bought package holidays. Consumers are entitled to a refund if forced to cancel a package holiday due to unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances, which should be issued within 14 days, depending on the nature of the contract in place. Packages must also be backed by insolvency protection schemes. DfT is in regular contact with the regulator, the sector and consumer groups and is working to ensure consumers are protected while recognising the pressure travel businesses are facing. The Government is also in continual dialogue with the insurance sector to understand and influence its contribution to handling Covid-19.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy: Buildings

Rachel Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the Answer on 15 May to Question 43779 on Civil Servants, in how many multi-hub locations employees of his Department are working together with employees of another Department or agency in London managed by the Government Property Agency; what the addresses are of those locations; and what other Departments and agencies employ staff at those locations.

Nadhim Zahawi: I refer the hon Member to the answer given today to Question UIN 54314.

Unemployment: Coronavirus

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to prevent an increase in unemployment in (a) York and (b) England as a result of the covid-19 outbreak.

Paul Scully: The government has announced a package of support for businesses to help with their ongoing business costs and prevent an increase in unemployment in recognition of the disruption caused by Covid-19. This package of support includes the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund (RHLGF) and the Small Business Grant Fund (SBGF). The SBGF and RHLGF have supported many thousands of small businesses with their ongoing business costs in recognition of the disruption caused by Covid-19. As of 7 June, £10.23 billion has been paid out to over 954,000 business properties under the two schemes, and the City of York Council has paid grants to 3,280 business premises, totalling £43,675,000. In addition, on 1 May, the Business Secretary announced that up to £617 million is being made available to Local Authorities in England to allow them to provide discretionary grants. The Local Authority Discretionary Grants Fund is aimed at small businesses with ongoing fixed property-related costs but not liable for business rates or rates reliefs.We are working closely with all local authorities to get remaining funding to businesses as quickly and efficiently as possible.

Economic Situation

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what plans he has to support local economies in broadening their economic base.

Paul Scully: It is clear that the UK economy will face significant challenges as a result of COVID-19. It is important to ensure that decisions to support the economy in the short term also support our longer term economic vision for a stronger, fairer, greener economy that builds on UK strengths in science, international relations and ease of doing business. We recognise that some sectors and regions are likely to be harder hit than others, so we will continue work on the levelling up agenda, building on the strengths of local places and creating new opportunities for long-term economic growth in parts of the country that have been worst affected. Government will work with places across England to build on the development of their Local Industrial Strategies to define a local vision for economic recovery and renewal. Officials in the Cities and Local Growth Unit will work with places to understand the full scale of the challenges they face in the short- to medium-term, through the MHCLG-led Economic Recovery Working Group.Achieving Net Zero also remains a priority and we will consider how transitioning to a carbon neutral economy and creating new sources of competitive advantage in green technology and sustainable business can be achieved.

Local Enterprise Partnerships: Coronavirus

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the provision of additional funding for Local Enterprise Partnerships to support the local regeneration of the economy.

Nadhim Zahawi: Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) continue to play a crucial role in driving economic growth across the country, helping to build a country that works for everyone. That is why Government has invested heavily through the Local Growth Fund, allowing LEPs to use their local knowledge to unlock economic growth and regeneration opportunities. The March 2020 Budget confirmed up to £387 million in 2021 and2022 for local areas to continue with existing priority Local Growth Fund projects.

Offshore Industry: Carbon Emissions

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what his policy is on achieving a transition to a net zero carbon economy for workers in the offshore oil and gas industry.

Kwasi Kwarteng: The Government is currently in discussion with the industry about our manifesto commitment to deliver a transformational oil and gas Sector Deal. This recognises that the sector has an important role to play as the UK moves to a net zero economy and is already strongly focussed on being part of the solution to the challenges that the transition will bring. I expect this Deal to focus on supporting jobs and maintaining skills, as well as new technologies and approaches that can help us decarbonise our economy.On 11 June, I attended the Oil and Gas Authority’s Maximising Economic Recovery Forum with industry leaders to discuss first proposals from the oil and gas industry for a Sector Deal, as well as the challenges posed by COVID-19, and the sector’s recovery.

Offshore Industry: North Sea

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the Answer of 21 April 2020 to Question 34978 on Offshore Industry: North Sea, on what dates since 1 March 2020 (a) Ministers and (b) Officials in his Department discussed employment matters in the offshore oil and gas industry with trade unions in that industry.

Kwasi Kwarteng: The Oil and Gas Authority as the regulatory body for the UK’s upstream oil and gas industry meets during the year with trade union leaders and are in regular contact with them outside of these meetings. BEIS Ministers and officials have had no direct meetings with trade unions on these issues since 1 March. However, I will be attending the virtual MER UK Forum on 11 June to which trade union leaders are also invited to participate. This forum allows for an open exchange of information on the challenges facing the industry and its workforce stemming from the COVID-19 crisis and the low oil price.

Waste Disposal: Applications

Alex Sobel: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether he has made an assessment of the implications for his policies of EU plans to establish a Clean Hydrogen Alliance; and whether he is taking steps to ensure that UK businesses can engage with that group.

Kwasi Kwarteng: We recognise that the scale up and demonstration of hydrogen’s potential in meeting Paris commitments is a global challenge. We are an active member of Mission Innovation and the International Partnership for Hydrogen and Fuel Cells in the Economy. Since the UK has left the European Union, we are seeking to engage and cooperate with the EU on hydrogen through normal diplomatic channels, and therefore the UK will not attend EU meetings on this topic other than in exceptional circumstances. Whilst the UK is leaving the EU single market, it remains an important part of the gas supply system for North West Europe. The UK can expect to work cooperatively with its neighbours to sustain this mutually beneficial relationship into the future as the methane gas market is decarbonised, potentially leading to a European hydrogen market.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Buildings

Rachel Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer on 15 May to Question 43779 on Civil Servants, in how many multi-hub locations employees of his Department are working together with employees of another Department or agency in London managed by the Government Property Agency; what the addresses are of those locations; and what other Departments and agencies employ staff at those locations.

Nigel Adams: I refer the Hon. Member to the Answer given to PQ 54314 on 12 June 2020.

Climate Change Convention: Glasgow

Dr Alan Whitehead: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many and what proportion of UK diplomats have been directly tasked with encouraging strong Nationally Determined Contributions from countries participating in COP 26 in November 2021.

James Duddridge: Tackling climate change in collaboration with international partners is a high priority for this government, and COP26 will require a whole-of-government effort, including strong diplomatic engagement. All Heads of Mission have been instructed by the Foreign Secretary to make climate change a top priority and, supported by around 180 diplomatic staff in embassies around the world, four regional COP26 ambassadors and the 24 staff in the Climate Diplomacy Team in FCO, encouraging strong Nationally Determined Contributions from countries is a major part of that work.

Marine Environment: Treaties

John Lamont: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is taking to ensure that a  new UN high seas treaty to protect ocean biodiversity and conservation is negotiated in 2020.

James Duddridge: The FCO and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs have been closely involved in the negotiation of a new Implementing Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction - the BBNJ Agreement - as an important step forward in addressing the challenges that the ocean faces. The UK is pressing for an ambitious Agreement. It will be a key mechanism in enabling the designation of at least 30 per cent of the global ocean as Marine Protected Areas by 2030.Unfortunately, due to the impacts of the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the fourth session of the Inter-Governmental Conference, scheduled for 23 March to 3 April in New York, was postponed. The UK is supportive of re-scheduling the fourth session for the earliest possible opportunity that will enable all delegations to be present for the negotiations in New York. The UK also strongly supports intersessional work, which is vital to ensure that we maintain momentum towards the successful conclusion of these important negotiations.

Iran: Arms Trade

Alexander Stafford: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the implications for regional security in Iran of the expiration of the UN conventional arms embargo on Iran in October 2020.

James Cleverly: The UK remains committed to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPoA), a reciprocal deal that lifts sanctions in exchange for tough nuclear limits. Iran has broken the nuclear limits in the JCPoA and we are working to bring Iran back into compliance through the deal's Dispute Resolution Mechanism.UNSCR 2231, which underpins the JCPoA, includes a number of clauses designed to allow sanctions to expire on fixed dates: the UN conventional arms embargo is due to expire in October 2020. The EU arms embargo and UN ballistic missile restrictions will remain in place until 2023. We are consulting partners on the broader implications of the UN arms embargo expiry for Iran as well as the region, and encourage all states to implement national export control best practice.We have repeatedly set out concerns about Iranian destabilising behaviour, including proliferation to non-state actors. UNSCRs 1540, 2216 and 1701, which prohibit the proliferation of weapons to the Houthis and Lebanese Hizballah, will remain in place after the arms embargo expires.

Gaza: Hamas

Alexander Stafford: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the effect of Hamas’s rule in Gaza on regional stability.

James Cleverly: The UK remains concerned about the situation in Gaza and any actions by Hamas which increase instability. We utterly condemn rocket fire by Hamas and other militants in Gaza; Palestinians and Israelis deserve to live in safety and peace. We encourage the Palestinian Authority, Israel, regional and international actors to put forward long-term sustainable proposals, to resolve the threat posed to Israel's security by Hamas, and see the Palestinian Authority's return to government functions in Gaza. This will help to improve the dire humanitarian and economic situation in the region.

British Indian Ocean Territory: Marine Protected Areas

Patrick Grady: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 2 June 2020 to Question 49117, British Overseas Territories: Marine Protected Areas, when his Department plans to publish a Marine Protected Area Management Plan for the British Indian Ocean Territory.

Wendy Morton: The UK Overseas Territories are constitutionally responsible for their marine environments and as such the UK Government will not be publishing Marine Protected Area Management Plan for the British Indian Ocean Territory.

Northern Ireland Office

Northern Ireland Office: Buildings

Rachel Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to the Answer on 15 May 2020 to Question 43779 on Civil Servants, at how many multi-hub locations employees of his Department work together with employees of another Department or agency in London managed by the Government Property Agency; what the addresses are of those locations; and what other Departments and agencies employ staff at those locations.

Mr Robin Walker: I refer the Hon. Member to the answer given by the Minister for the Cabinet Office on 12 June 2020 (UIN 54314).

Department of Health and Social Care

Body Bags

Mr Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the number of body bags available for use by (a) the NHS and (b) funeral directors.

Jo Churchill: Holding answer received on 27 April 2020



The Government published ‘Coronavirus (COVID-19): personal protective equipment (PPE) plan’ on 10 April. It incorporates guidance on who needs PPE and when they need it, routes to ensure those who need it can get it at the right time and sets out actions to secure enough PPE to last through the crisis. PPE includes aprons, eye protectors, face masks, gloves, gowns, hand hygiene, clinical waste bags and body bags.In addition to making PPE available to National Health Service trusts, primary care and adult social care, we are also delivering PPE to all Local Resilience Forums (LRFs). These multi-agency LRF partnerships are made up of representatives from local public services, including the emergency services, local authorities, the NHS, the Environment Agency and others. This enables LRFs to respond to urgent local spikes in need across the adult social care system and other front-line services, including mortuary and funeral services where providers are unable to access PPE through their usual routes.

NHS: Coronavirus

Dr Lisa Cameron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of Cancer Research UK’s call for widespread testing of NHS staff and patients to create covid-19-free hospitals and to prevent unnecessary cancer deaths.

Jo Churchill: In response to COVID-19, 21 Cancer Alliances across England now have arrangements in place for cancer hubs. These are hospitals dedicated to cancer care away from hospitals dealing with the virus to keep often vulnerable cancer patients safe.A letter was issued to trusts on 29 April 2020 detailing the Second Phase of Response to COVID-19. This letter sets out that:Local systems and Cancer Alliances must continue to identify ring-fenced diagnostic and surgical capacity for cancer, and providers must protect and deliver cancer surgery and cancer treatment by ensuring that cancer surgery hubs are fully operational. Full use should be made of the available contracted independent sector hospital and diagnostic capacity locally and regionally. Regional cancer Senior Responsible Officers must now provide assurance that these arrangements are in place everywhere.

Protective Clothing: Procurement

Julian Sturdy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what proportion of personal protective equipment for the health service was sourced from domestic suppliers in 2019.

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what comparative assessment his Department has made of the number of UK and overseas companies awarded Government procurement contracts for the supply of personal protective equipment during the covid-19 outbreak.

Julian Sturdy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what proportion of personal protective equipment for the health service has been sourced from domestic suppliers in each of the last five months.

Jo Churchill: There has been limited domestic manufacture of personal protective equipment (PPE) to date. Lord Deighton is leading the Government effort to unleash the potential of British industry to manufacture PPE for the health and social care sectors. We have identified opportunities and sourced new supply channels for materials to make PPE at pace, enabling new manufacturing to commence. The Government is also working to support the scale-up of engineering efforts for small companies capable of contributing to supplies.The Government has signed contracts to manufacture over 2 billion items of PPE through United Kingdom-based manufacturers, including aprons, facemasks, visors and gowns and has already taken delivery of products from new, certified UK manufacturers. These will contribute to the national effort to meet the unprecedented demand for PPE.

New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group: Wales

Liz Saville Roberts: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the New and Emerging Respiratory Threats Advisory Group recommendation in June 2019 on surgical gowns was shared with the Welsh Government.

Jo Churchill: Holding answer received on 02 June 2020



The recommendations of the New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group (NERVTAG) on personal protective equipment (PPE) procurement are publicly available and can be accessed online.The contents of the pandemic influenza stockpile were based on the recommendations of NERVTAG. Following advice from the NERVTAG committee on the inclusion of gowns in the stockpile, the NERVTAG sub-committee for PPE was asked to confirm the specification (sterile non/sterile) for the market analysis. This was received by Public Health England in November 2019 and the market analysis was being finalised prior to seeking policy and financial approval from the Department, Welsh Government, Scottish Government and Northern Ireland Assembly. Once approval was received the procurement exercise would have commenced in early 2020. However, in light of the COVID-19 outbreak the focus shifted to procuring gowns for immediate distribution to the National Health Service and social care.

Podiatry: Community Health Services

Alex Norris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps to help expand community podiatry services to tackle levels of diabetic foot ulceration and amputation as a result of the covid-19 outbreak; and if he will make a statement.

Jo Churchill: Holding answer received on 04 June 2020



NHS England and NHS Improvement wrote to providers of community services on 19 March to ensure that diabetic foot clinics for high risk diabetic and vascular patients are maintained during the COVID-19 outbreak.There is no plan to expand community podiatry services at this time.

Health Services: Protective Clothing

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether Government guidelines on personal protective equipment (PPE) for health care workers were based on PPE availability.

Jo Churchill: Public Health England (PHE) has published clear guidance on personal protective equipment (PPE) for health and social care workers. This was written and reviewed by all four United Kingdom public health bodies and informed by National Health Service infection prevention control experts. It is consistent with World Health Organization guidance PHE has also published guidance on ‘Considerations for acute personal protective equipment (PPE) shortages’. This covers sessional use, reuse and alternatives to standard PPE when there are severe shortages of supply.

Motor Neurone Disease: Coronavirus

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, for what reason motor neurone disease (MND) was removed from the extremely vulnerable list; if he will publish the evidential basis for that decision; and if he will make an assessment of for what reason Northern Ireland regards MND patients as extremely vulnerable, but England does not.

Jo Churchill: Holding answer received on 04 June 2020



Expert doctors in England identified specific medical conditions that, based on what we knew about the virus so far, placed someone at greatest risk of severe illness from COVID-19. Motor neurone disease has never been on the list of specific medical conditions as it was determined that it would not be included as there are many stages to the disease, with varying levels of severity.General practitioners and hospital clinicians have the discretion to add individual patients to the list based on a clinical assessment of their needs. Anyone with motor neurone disease who is concerned about whether or not they should be shielding, should contact their doctor to discuss.The Northern Ireland Executive, through its Department of Health, is responsible for decisions in Northern Ireland.

Coronavirus: Quarantine

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he plans to update the guidance given to people that are shielding in response to the covid-19 outbreak as 12 week threshold since receiving their letters approaches.

Nick Fletcher: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the covid-19 outbreak, whether people who are shielding will have to continue to do so after June 2020.

Jo Churchill: On 1 June the shielding guidance was updated to advise that those shielding may wish to consider spending time outdoors once a day while following social distancing guidelines.The Government continues to review the emerging evidence and we will continue to listen to medical advisers on the level of clinical risk the virus presents to different groups of people at different points in time.At each review point for the social distancing measures, we will review the risks for the clinically extremely vulnerable and assess whether the shielding period needs to be extended or whether it is possible for the shielding guidance to be eased further.The next review will take place the week commencing 15 June. As part of this, we will consider the next steps for shielding beyond 30 June. We will write to all individuals on the shielded patient list with information about next steps on shielding advice and the support that will be available to them after this review point.

NHS: Protective Clothing

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what guidance was provided to NHS hospitals on face fit tests for people wearing FFP3 masks between February and May 2020.

Jo Churchill: Where respiratory protective equipment is required, the COVID-19 infection prevention and control guidance states that fit testing is necessary. This information has been included in all published versions of the COVID-19 infection prevention and control guidance since 10 January 2020. The COVID-19: infection prevention and control guidance is available to view at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/wuhan-novel-coronavirus-infection-prevention-and-control

Ophthalmology: Coronavirus

Julian Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when optician practices will be able to reopen during the covid-19 outbreak.

Jo Churchill: NHS England and NHS Improvement issued guidance on 1 April suspending all routine National Health Service eye care services, during the height of the pandemic. Essential services such as the remote provision of glasses needed by patients to function, have continued to be provided, from a limited number of optical practices.Around 350 optical practices are commissioned to provide urgent/emergency eye care services by clinical commissioning groups as part of moving services out of hospital. These have also continued to be provided.NHS England and NHS Improvement are now urgently considering when it will be appropriate to return to the full provision of the NHS sight testing service.

Ophthalmic Services

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will ensure that eye clinic liaison officers are available in all ophthalmology departments; and what steps he is taking to ensure that patients with sight loss can access the support they need for retaining their independence.

Jo Churchill: The Government fully appreciates the impact that sight loss can have on a person’s life and the importance of information being available for those newly diagnosed with sight loss, in addition to access to appropriate support and rehabilitation services.Eye clinics and their staff, including eye clinic liaison officers, are commissioned and funded by individual clinical commissioning groups, on the basis of local assessments of need.The Care Act 2014 requires that where a person, including those with sight loss, has care and support needs, these must be met by their local authority.

Dental Services: Pregnancy

Mike Amesbury: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has plans to extend the dental coverage provided in medical exemption certificates for pregnant women who have been unable to receive dental treatment during covid-19 outbreak.

Jo Churchill: No decisions have been made on whether to extend exemptions from dental charges for maternity or other grounds for exemption following the peak pandemic period.Pregnant women and new mothers who have given birth within the last 12 months are exempt from dental charges. Urgent dental treatment continued to be provided through the peak pandemic period from over 550 urgent dental centres. Any urgent treatment a pregnant woman or new mother needed during this period therefore should have been available.NHS England and NHS Improvement announced on 28 May that NHS dental practices will be able to begin to see patients again from 8 June, with the aim of increasing levels of service, as fast as is compatible with maximizing safety. A copy of the letter that was published can be found at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/wp-ontent/uploads/sites/52/2020/03/Urgent-dental-care-letter-28-May.pdf

Protective Clothing: Procurement

Robert Largan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of Lord Deighton’s progress on leading the Government's efforts to increase domestic manufacturing of personal protective equipment.

Jo Churchill: Lord Deighton is the Government’s adviser on personal protective equipment (PPE) and as part of this he is leading the Government effort to encourage British industry to manufacture PPE. The Government is successfully building up United Kingdom manufacturing and has signed contracts for the manufacture of over 2 billion items of PPE through UK-based manufacturers, including aprons, facemasks, visors and gowns.

Coronavirus: Protective Clothing

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what proportion of personal protective equipment used by the NHS is now produced in the UK.

Jo Churchill: There has been limited domestic manufacture of personal protective equipment (PPE) to date. Lord Deighton is leading the Government effort to unleash the potential of British industry to manufacture PPE for the health and social care sectors. We have identified opportunities and sourced new supply channels for materials to make PPE at pace, enabling new manufacturing to commence. The Government is also working to support the scale-up of engineering efforts for small companies capable of contributing to supplies.The Government has signed contracts to manufacture over 2 billion items of PPE through United Kingdom-based manufacturers, including aprons, facemasks, visors and gowns and has already taken delivery of products from new, certified UK manufacturers. These will contribute to the national effort to meet the unprecedented demand for PPE.

Coronavirus: Patients

Stella Creasy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people have been removed from the covid-19 shielded patients list and notified of that removal by text message.

Jo Churchill: Holding answer received on 04 June 2020



General practitioners and hospital specialists have been asked to review their shielded patient lists based on clinical judgement and an assessment of everyone’s needs. They have also been provided with guidance to support these decisions, which should be made following discussion with the patient and taking into account their individual clinical circumstances.Information on the number of patients removed from shielded patient lists is not held centrally.

Cancer: Health Services

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure cancer services can restart in safe settings during the covid-19 outbreak.

Jo Churchill: In response to COVID-19, 21 Cancer Alliances across England now have arrangements in place for cancer hubs. These are hospitals dedicated to cancer care away from hospitals dealing with the virus to keep often vulnerable cancer patients safe.Essential and urgent cancer treatment has continued throughout the pandemic period, and we are now working on the restoration and recovery of all cancer services.As part of the restoration of services, NHS services will continue to identify ring-fenced diagnostic and surgical capacity for cancer, as well as delivering treating patients in cancer hubs, to ensure that referrals, diagnostics and treatment are brought back to pre-pandemic levels.

Oxygen: Care Homes

Navendu Mishra: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that nursing homes and care homes receive the oxygen supplies they require.

Edward Argar: Where care or nursing home residents are assessed as requiring oxygen by their health care professional, either an oxygen concentrator or oxygen cylinders will be installed by the regional Home Oxygen Service (HOS) provider, who also deliver training on proper use. The HOS provider is then responsible for the ongoing maintenance of the concentrator or replacement of oxygen cylinders as needed. The HOS contracts in England require HOS providers to deliver the equipment within four hours in urgent cases. All the HOS providers have maintained their service levels throughout the COVID-19 pandemic period and supply chains have remained resilient.

Coronavirus: Disease Control

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what (a) advice or (b) guidance on the easing of covid-19 social distancing measures has been issued to clinically vulnerable people who have been shielding.

Jo Churchill: On 1 June the shielding guidance was updated to advise that those shielding may wish to consider spending time outdoors once a day. This can be with members of their own household or, for those shielding alone, with one person from another household. For those who do choose to go outside, particular care should be taken to minimise contact with others and they should follow social distancing guidelines.More information can be found on GOV.UK at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19

Coronavirus: Protective Clothing

Clive Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that there is an adequate supply personal protective equipment in the event of a second covid-19 peak later in 2020.

Jo Churchill: Holding answer received on 04 June 2020



We are working around the clock to give the National Health Service and social care sector the equipment and support they need to tackle this outbreak.The Government is working to expand supply of personal protective equipment (PPE) from overseas, improve domestic manufacturing capability and expand and improve the logistics network for delivering it to the front line. The Government has recently signed contracts for the manufacture of over 2 billion items of PPE through United Kingdom-based manufacturers, including aprons, facemasks, visors and gowns.

Care Homes: Protective Clothing

Clive Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what supply chains for personal protective equipment are available to independent care homes that are not able to be part of NHS procurement channels.

Jo Churchill: We are working around the clock to give the social care sector and wider National Health Service the equipment and support they need to tackle this outbreak.We have made personal protective equipment (PPE) available to designated wholesalers for onward sale to social care providers and delivered further PPE to local resilience forums (LRFs) to help them respond to urgent local spikes in need across the adult social care system and some other front-line services, where providers are unable to access PPE through their usual, or dedicated wholesaler routes.The National Supply Disruption Response operates a 24-hour helpline that can also respond to emergency PPE requests.Finally, we are rolling out a PPE Portal to help primary and social care providers to order critical PPE. This been tested with the sector and is now being scaled up nationally over the coming weeks. During this phase of the roll-out, general practitioners, small residential social care services (care homes with 24 beds or fewer), and small domiciliary care providers will be invited to register on the portal.The full weight of the Government is behind this effort and we are working closely with industry, social care providers, the NHS, and the army to ensure the right equipment continues to be delivered.

Shingles: Vaccination

Chris Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to introduce specific plans after the covid-19 outbreak to encourage eligible patients through proactive measures, such as call and recall, to attend primary care to get the shingles vaccine.

Jo Churchill: People in the age group eligible for the shingles vaccine are required to take particular care to avoid situations where they are at higher risk of acquiring COVID-19 and are therefore not currently being actively called for immunisation by their general practitioner (GP). However, if they are attending the GP practice for other reasons and it is clinically appropriate to offer shingles vaccine, they will be given the vaccine.Maintaining routine vaccination services during COVID-19 and recovering delivery of our national immunisation programme are high priorities for the Government and the health and care sector but need to be considered in light of social distancing and shielding measures. An immunisation recovery plan is being drawn up by NHS England and NHS Improvement, taking into account risk assessment advice from Public Health England, which will include proactive use of call/recall.

Vaccination: Schools

Chris Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to increase workforce capacity to support the school vaccination programme in 2020 and catch up vaccination programmes.

Jo Churchill: NHS England and NHS Improvement are working to restore school-age vaccination programmes that have paused due to school closures. This planning is based on local need and will include an assessment of the workforce capacity needed to restore these services, as well as consideration as to whether an increase to the current workforce is required.The operational planning also includes working with schools to consider other steps to increase capacity, such as vaccinating during the school holidays, where necessary.

Vaccination

Chris Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of providers outside of primary care providing immunisation services and support catch-ups with patients to relieve pressure on primary care.

Jo Churchill: Providers other than primary care make a valuable contribution to the national immunisation programmes, for example, some maternity services provide pertussis and flu vaccinations, and most school-aged vaccinations take place outside of primary care.The 2019 National Health Service review of vaccinations and immunisations delivery sought to explore how to increase uptake of vaccinations and consider if vaccines could be safely and efficiently delivered by providers other than general practice, building on the contribution of community pharmacies to seasonal influenza coverage, and the possibility to widen the range of health professionals who deliver vaccinations.Any changes in delivery models would be carefully considered with due regard to patient safety, data flows, impact on outcomes and contractual requirements.

Coronavirus: Disease Control

Martyn Day: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department is collecting data on patients that have had their treatment options (a) changed and (b) paused as a result of the covid-19 outbreak to ensure that the effect of those changes are appropriately (i) tracked and (ii) recorded.

Edward Argar: Data is not available in the format requested.

Blood Cancer: Coronavirus

Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people with blood cancer have been removed from the shielding list by (a) clinicians and (b) GPs in England.

Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what evidence his Department based it's decision on for the removal of blood cancer patients from the covid-19 shielding list.

Jo Churchill: The shielded patient list is dynamic – general practitioners and specialists continue to make clinical judgements based the shielding criteria, that may result in those who had initially been advised to shield from COVID-19 no longer being advised to do so. Doctors have also been provided with guidance to support these decisions, which should be made following discussion with the patient and taking into account their individual clinical circumstances.Information on the number of patients removed from the shielded patient list is not held centrally.

Coronavirus: Disease Control

Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to ensure that clinical criteria will be in place before further changes are made to the covid-19 shielding list.

Jo Churchill: The Chief Medical Officer (CMO) for England, working with the CMOs of the devolved administrations and other senior clinicians, commissioned NHS Digital to produce a list of vulnerable people at “high risk” of complications from COVID-19, who should be shielded for at least 12 weeks.The next review point for the social distancing measures will take place the week commencing 15 June. As part of this, we will consider the next steps for shielding beyond 30 June. We will also review the risks for the clinically extremely vulnerable and assess whether the shielding period needs to be extended or whether it is possible for the shielding guidance to be eased further. We will base our assessment on clinical advice from our medical experts, and the best data available about the prevalence of COVID-19 in the community.

Coronavirus: Ethnic Groups

Stephen Farry: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference the findings in the report published by Public Health England on 2 June 2020 entitled Disparities in the risk and outcomes of covid-19, what steps he plans to take to reduce health inequalities for BAME groups.

Jo Churchill: Racial disparities in the health of the nation are unacceptable. Following the publication of Public Health England (PHE)’s report, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Equalities (Kemi Badenoch MP) has been asked to urgently review the findings and better understand the drivers behind them. As part of this, we will look very closely at the health inequalities aspects of PHE’s report and further action needed to address them.We remain committed to levelling up and spreading opportunity around this country, which will be an essential part of the economic and social recovery from this crisis.

Coronavirus: Social Distancing

Sir Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 27 May 2020 to Question 44954, on Coronavirus: Social Distancing, if he will place in the House of Commons Library the study on respiratory droplet characteristics and dispersion that informed the precautionary measures; and if he will make a statement.

Jo Churchill: Holding answer received on 08 June 2020



The study on respiratory droplet characteristics and dispersion is available to view at the following link:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7128962/

Mental Health Services: Coronavirus

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the effect of the covid-19 outbreak on access to (a) improving access to psychological therapies, (b) child and adolescent mental health services and (c) community mental health services.

Ms Nadine Dorries: Holding answer received on 08 June 2020



The Government and NHS England and NHS Improvement recognise that the mental health impacts of the COVID-19 outbreak are significant and are working closely with mental health providers to ensure those who need them have access to mental health services. Our community mental health services, Improving Access to Psychological Therapies services and children and young people’s services have remained open for business throughout this time and are working to support people with mental health issues through the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond, deploying innovative digital tools to connect with people and provide ongoing support.For those with severe needs or in crisis, NHS England has instructed all National Health Service mental health trusts to establish 24 hours a day, seven days a week mental health crisis lines for urgent NHS mental health support, advice and triage for people of all ages through a single point of access.

Department of Health and Social Care: Written Questions

Dame Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he plans to respond to Question 38442, submitted on 21 April 2020, by the hon. Member for Kingston upon Hull North.

Jo Churchill: The hon. Member’s question was answered on 3 June.

Department of Health and Social Care: Buildings

Rachel Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer on 15 May to Question 43779 on Civil Servants, in how many multi-hub locations employees of his Department are working together with employees of another Department or agency in London managed by the Government Property Agency; what the addresses are of those locations; and what other Departments and agencies employ staff at those locations.

Edward Argar: The Department does not have any employees in London located in properties managed by the Government Property Agency.

Coronavirus: Mental Health

Dr Rosena Allin-Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential effect of prolonged social isolation on the mental wellbeing of the general public.

Ms Nadine Dorries: We are working with the National Health Service and Public Health England, service users, academics and the voluntary sector to gather evidence and assess the potential longer-term mental health impacts of COVID-19 and plan for how to support the public’s mental health and wellbeing throughout the ‘recovery’ phase.Mental health services remain open and are working to support people with mental health problems through the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond and, on 22 April, the Government launched a major effort to tackle loneliness due to social isolation during the COVID-19 outbreak to ensure that, for people of all ages and backgrounds, staying at home does not need to lead to loneliness.

Coronavirus: Disease Control

Munira Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will publish the responses of organisations that submitted evidence to the Public Health England review of disparities in risks and outcomes of covid-19 released on 2 June 2020.

Jo Churchill: Holding answer received on 08 June 2020



The Government commissioned Public Health England (PHE) to analyse how different factors can impact on people's health outcomes from COVID-19. The resulting report was published this week.Separately, PHE has also been engaging with a significant number of individuals and organisations within black, Asian and minority ethnic communities over the past couple of months to hear their views, concerns and ideas about the impact of COVID-19 on their communities. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Equalities (Kemi Badenoch MP) will be building on and expanding that engagement as she takes work forward to better understand the drivers behind the ethnicity analyses in the PHE report.

Mental Health Services: Staff

Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of the extent of staff shortages in the NHS mental health workforce; and what steps his Department is taking to tackle those shortages.

Ms Nadine Dorries: Expanding the mental health workforce is a key priority for the Government. We understand the need to get the right workforce in place to deliver our ambitious commitments to transform mental health services and, most importantly, achieve better outcomes for the people we are here to serve.Our interim NHS People Plan set out immediate actions we will take to fill vacancies and secure the staff we need for the future – including addressing pensions tax concerns, increasing university clinical placements for all nursing specialities by over 5,000 more and bolstering the workforce through greater international recruitment.In response to ‘Stepping forward to 2020/21: The mental health workforce plan for England’, the overall mental health workforce has grown by over 6,000 individuals since March 2017.

Coronavirus: Protective Clothing

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether each glove from a pair of gloves is counted as an individual piece of personal protective equipment for the purposes of statistics that his Department collates on such equipment.

Jo Churchill: Holding answer received on 08 June 2020



Gloves are provided individually in boxes of 200, and as such are counted individually. This is standard practice within the National Health Service supply chain as gloves are supplied individually and can be used one, two, or four at a time depending on clinical need.

Suicide: Males

Martyn Day: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he has taken to reduce the risk of suicide in middle-aged men on low incomes; and if he will make a statement.

Ms Nadine Dorries: The NHS Long Term Plan’s Mental Health Implementation Plan sets out our plans to invest £57 million in suicide prevention. This will see investment in all areas of the country by 2023/24 to support local suicide prevention plans and establish suicide bereavement support services. We have worked with NHS England to ensure that local areas use this funding to test approaches to reaching and engaging men.The National Suicide Prevention Strategy highlights men, and especially middle-aged and young men, as a group at high risk of suicide, and in January 2019, we published the first cross-Government suicide prevention workplan. It includes sections on tailoring prevention approaches towards reducing suicide risk in high-risk groups such as men.

Mental Health Act 1983

Munira Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when his Department plans to publish the White Paper on reforming the Mental Health Act 1983.

Ms Nadine Dorries: Holding answer received on 10 June 2020



We have committed to publishing a White Paper which will set out the Government’s response to Sir Simon Wessely’s Independent Review of the Mental Health Act 1983 and pave the way for reform of the Act.We will publish our White Paper as soon as it is possible to do so. We will consult publicly on our proposals and will bring forward a Bill to amend the Act when parliamentary time allows.

Mental Health Services

Munira Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many new referrals there were to NHS secondary mental health services in March and April (a) 2020 and (b) 2019.

Ms Nadine Dorries: Holding answer received on 10 June 2020



The information requested is shown in the following table. EnglandMarch 2019April 2019March 2020April 20202Referrals to mental health services starting in reporting period1321,326303,373297,516Not yet availableSource: Mental Health Services Data Set, NHS Digital3 Notes:1 A person may have had more than one referral within any given period.2 Data for April 2020 are still being collected and analysed.3 Caution should be made when comparing data as the coverage of the Mental Health Services Data Set has increased with 266 providers submitting data in March 2020 compared to 171 providers in March 2019.

Mental Health: White Papers

Daisy Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he plans to publish the White Paper on mental health.

Daisy Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the Government plans to implement all of the recommendations from the Independent Review of the Mental Health Act 1983.

Ms Nadine Dorries: We have committed to publishing a White Paper which will set out the Government’s response to Sir Simon Wessely’s Independent Review of the Mental Health Act 1983 and pave the way for reform of the Act.We will publish our White Paper as soon as it is possible to do so. We will consult publicly on our proposals and will bring forward a Bill to amend the Act when parliamentary time allows.

Maternity Services: Immigrants

Mohammad Yasin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent estimate he has made of the number of non-EU nationals who cannot (a) leave the UK during the covid-19 outbreak and (b) afford access to NHS maternity treatment.

Edward Argar: Holding answer received on 11 June 2020



The Department does not collect or hold data on the number of non-European Union nationals who cannot leave the United Kingdom during the COVID-19 outbreak.The Department does not collect or hold data on the number of non-EU nationals who have been charged for National Health Service maternity care but are unable to pay.

Surgical Mesh Implants: Compensation

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussion (a) he, (b) Ministers in his Department and (c) officials in his Department have had with their counterparts in the Treasury on plans to introduce a compensation fund for people affected by mesh implants.

Ms Nadine Dorries: We are currently awaiting the report of the Independent Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Review, which is expected on 8 July.The Review is independent of Government and it would not be right to pre-empt the Review’s report or recommendations before they have been made public. We can confirm that the Government will consider its recommendations most carefully.We would urge anyone who believes that they may have been affected by mesh implants to seek clinical advice and support for what help is available.

Department for International Development

Department for International Development: Buildings

Rachel Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to the Answer on 15 May 2020 to Question 43779 on Civil Servants, at how many multi-hub locations employees of her Department work together with employees of another Department or agency in London managed by the Government Property Agency; what the addresses are of those locations; and what other Departments and agencies employ staff at those locations.

Nigel Adams: I refer the Hon. member to the answer given to PQ 54314 on 11 June 2020.

Department for Education

GCSE: Students

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he is taking to support external candidates unable to sit GCSE exams that have been cancelled due to the covid-19 outbreak but who must matriculate to sixth form education in 2020.

Nick Gibb: The Department anticipates that the vast majority of students will be able to use the calculated grades they receive in the summer to move on to their next steps.There may be a relatively small number of students, including some private candidates, where there is not enough evidence to calculate a grade. The Department understands that 16 to 19 schools and colleges will consider a range of other evidence and information for these students to allow them to progress wherever possible.Students who are unable to receive a calculated grade will also have the opportunity to sit exams in the autumn.

Private Education: Coronavirus

Charlotte Nichols: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what guidance his Department has issued to private schools on a timeline for reopening schools following the covid-19 outbreak.

Nick Gibb: Guidance on the wider opening of all schools applies to all schools in England, including independent schools, can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/closure-of-educational-settings-information-for-parents-and-carers/reopening-schools-and-other-educational-settings-from-1-june. It includes detailed guidance on how schools can manage and minimise risks to children, teachers, and their families as they reopen.We encourage all independent schools to follow the timelines we have outlined for wider opening and welcome the constructive and supportive approach taken by the sector throughout the COVID-19 outbreak.At this point, we have asked primary schools to welcome back children in Reception, year 1 and year 6, alongside the priority groups (vulnerable children and children of critical workers) that could already attend. While we will be unable to welcome all primary children back for a month before the summer, we continue to work with all parts of the education sector on the next steps. We would like to see wider opening to enable schools that have capacity to do so to bring back more children in the smaller class sizes before the summer holidays.As outlined by my right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister on 24 May, secondary schools should prepare to invite year 10 and 12 pupils back into school for some face-to-face support with their teachers from 15 June.

Coronavirus: Educational Institutions

Dr Dan Poulter: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he is taking to ensure that the transmission rate of covid-19 is low and manageable in (a) nurseries, (b) primary schools, (c) secondary schools and (d) sixth form colleges.

Nick Gibb: As a result of the huge efforts everyone has made to adhere to strict social distancing measures, the transmission rate of COVID-19 has decreased and the Government’s five tests have been met. Based on all the evidence, the Department asked primary schools to welcome back children in nursery, Reception, year 1 and year 6, alongside priority groups (vulnerable children and children of critical workers), from 1 June. From 15 June, secondary schools can invite year 10 and 12 pupils (years 10 and 11 for alternative provision schools) back into school for some face-to-face support with their teachers, to supplement their remote education, which will remain the predominant mode of education for these pupils this term. Priority groups can continue to attend full-time.Ensuring the safety of children, young people, the workforce and families is our overriding priority, and we have been led by the science in determining when it is safe to bring children back. We are taking a phased approach to opening up schools and other education settings to more children, to limit the risk of increasing the rate of transmission. It is important to underline that all education and childcare settings remain safe places for children.The Department has published extensive and detailed guidance for settings, also for parents and carers, on how to prepare. All of the Department’s COVID-19 guidance for childcare and educational settings – including that on implementing protective measures and preparing settings to reopen - can be found in one place on GOV.UK at:https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-for-schools-and-other-educational-settings.The measures set out in the protective measures guidance – including the ability to access the new national test and trace programme - can be seen as a hierarchy of controls that, when implemented, creates an inherently safer system, where the risk of transmission of infection is substantially reduced.We continue to follow the best scientific advice and believe that our cautious, phased return is the most sensible course of action to take. We will only ask schools and further education colleges to welcome more children and young people back when the scientific advice indicates that we can. If necessary, we will ask settings to re-impose measures.

Schools: Coronavirus

Afzal Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions officials in his Department have had with representatives from local authorities on the provision of home to school transport in advance of the reopening of schools on 1 June 2020.

Nick Gibb: The Department has been in regular contact with local authorities during the period of partial school closure and in preparation for the phased wider opening of schools from 1 June, and these conversations will continue. This has included meetings with representatives of local authority home to school transport teams.

Schools: Attendance

Afzal Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many (a) nursery, (b) reception, (c) year one and (d) year six pupils attended school in England on 1 June 2020.

Afzal Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many (a) nursery, (b) reception, (c) year one and (d) year six pupils attended school in Greater Manchester on 1 June 2020.

Afzal Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many (a) nursery, (b) reception, (c) year one and (d) year six pupils attended school in Manchester, Gorton constituency on 1 June 2020.

Nick Gibb: The closest matching available data on pupil attendance in educational establishments since 23 March was published on Tuesday 9 June at the following link and covers data up to Thursday 4 June:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-attendance-in-education-and-early-years-settingsThe data is collected from individual education establishments and the published figures include estimates for non-response.

Primary Education: Assessments

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to his letter to the honorable Member for righton, Pavillion dated April 7 2020, reference 2020-0008728POGibb, if he will publish the basis on which he determined that the Information Commissioner’s Office was content with the proposals for the reception baseline assessment’s use of data; what assessment he has made of the compatibility of the contents of that letter with the statement made by the Information Commissioner on 14 May 2020 that its r review of the Reception Baseline Assessment's use of data was still ongoing and that it had not made a definitive decision or made a comment whether we are content or not with this”;  and if he will make a statement.

Nick Gibb: The Department submitted an Article 36(4) consultation with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) in December 2019, where it was confirmed that the ICO would continue to monitor the reception baseline assessment (RBA) through its relationship with the officials working on the national pupil database (NPD). The Department is unaware of any statement made by the Information Commissioner on 14 May 2020 and we have confirmed with the ICO that no statement about the RBA was made on this date. No comment can therefore be made on this. Information on the RBA and the RBA privacy notices can be found here: https://www.nfer.ac.uk/for-schools/participate-in-research/information-about-the-201920-reception-baseline-assessment-pilot/.

Schools: Mental Health

Dr Lisa Cameron: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans he has to provide schools with flexibility under the national curriculum to meet the emotional and mental health needs of staff and pupils when schools reopen as part of the easing of covid-19 restrictions.

Nick Gibb: Schools and colleges continue to be best placed to make decisions about how to support and educate all their pupils during this period, based on the local context and staff capacity.Where year groups are returning to school, we would expect school leaders and teachers to consider their pupils’ mental health and wellbeing and identify any pupil who may need additional support so they are ready to learn. They should also assess the stage pupils have reached in the school curriculum and the adjustments that may need to be made.No school will be penalised if they are unable to offer a broad and balanced curriculum to their pupils during this period.Our planning framework for schools advises them to prepare wellbeing support, and the primary planning guide sets out further guidance on managing pupil and staff wellbeing and mental health as schools open more widely: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/preparing-for-the-wider-opening-of-schools-from-1-june/planning-guide-for-primary-schools#managing-pupil-and-staff-wellbeing-and-mental-health.The Department has signposted resources on supporting and promoting mental wellbeing among a list of resources to help children to use at home: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-online-education-resources.BBC Bitesize have worked with the Department to provide content with substantial focus on mental health, wellbeing and pastoral care.Public Health England and Health Education England have also developed advice and guidance for parents and professionals on supporting children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing, including bereavement support. This advice is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-on-supporting-children-and-young-peoples-mental-health-and-wellbeing.These are rapidly developing circumstances; we continue to keep the situation under review and will keep Parliament updated accordingly.

Schools: Repairs and Maintenance

Luke Pollard: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether his Department has issued new guidance to schools and multi-academy trusts on the (a) design and (b) layout of (i) building, (ii) rebuilding and (iii) refurbishment projects as a result of the covid-19 outbreak.

Nick Gibb: The Government has not issued such guidance to schools and multi-academy trusts as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak.However, to help nurseries and schools to plan, prepare and adapt existing spaces for the return of more children, the Department published a range of detailed guidance on how to implement protective measures. The guidance can be found at the following GOV.UK link:https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-for-schools-and-other-educational-settings.This includes the main protective measures guidance, which can be found directly here:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-implementing-protective-measures-in-education-and-childcare-settings/coronavirus-covid-19-implementing-protective-measures-in-education-and-childcare-settings.

Department for Education: Buildings

Rachel Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer on 15 May to Question 43779 on Civil Servants, in how many multi-hub locations employees of his Department are working together with employees of another Department or agency in London managed by the Government Property Agency; what the addresses are of those locations; and what other Departments and agencies employ staff at those locations.

Nick Gibb: I refer the hon. Member to the answer my hon. Friend, Chloe Smith gave on 12 June 2020 to Question 54314.

Universities: Scotland

Chris Elmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of limits on the number of English students who can attend Scottish universities from 2020 on the higher education sector.

Michelle Donelan: Student number controls for English-domiciled students in Scotland are a direct response to the financial threat posed by the COVID-19 outbreak and they form a key part of the package of measures to stabilise the admissions system. These controls are a temporary measure and will be in place for one academic year only. Student number controls for institutions in Scotland only apply to the number of English-domiciled entrants who will be supported with their tuition fees through the Student Loans Company. They are set at a level which will allow every institution to take more first year English students than they took last year. The funding of English-domiciled students is not a devolved matter, and it is right and fair that this policy should apply as consistently as possible wherever they are studying in the UK.  Ministers will continue to work closely with the devolved administrations on strengthening and stabilising the higher education system following the COVID-19 outbreak.

Children: Day Care

Steve Brine: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many Ofsted registered (a) nurseries and (b) childminders have closed in each of the last 12 months.

Vicky Ford: This is a matter for Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector, Amanda Spielman. I have asked her to write to my hon. Friend and a copy of her reply will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Schools: Coronavirus

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what proportion of pupils in (a) nursery settings, (b) reception, (c) Year 1 and (d) Year 6 returned to school in (i) England and (ii) York in the week commencing 1 June 2020.

Nick Gibb: The closest matching available data on pupil attendance in educational establishments since 23 March was published on Tuesday 9 June at the following link and covers data up to Thursday 4 June:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-attendance-in-education-and-early-years-settings.The data is collected from individual education establishments and the published figures include estimates for non-response.

Erasmus+ Programme

Emma Hardy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions he has had with the Chancellor and Home Secretary on the (a) budget for and (b) functioning of, a domestic alternative to the Erasmus+ scheme.

Emma Hardy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether a date for publishing the details of an alternative scheme to Erasmus+ has been set; and whether any such date will take into account the need for students to finalise plans to study abroad in September 2020.

Michelle Donelan: The government remains committed to international exchanges in education, both with the EU and further afield.For students planning to study abroad in September 2020, the UK will continue to participate fully in the current (2014-2020) Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps (ESC) programmes under the Withdrawal Agreement negotiated with the EU. This means that the projects that have been successfully bid for during the current programmes will continue to receive EU funding for the full duration of the project, including for those programmes where funding runs beyond 2020 and the end of the transition period. Participants who are due to study, train, volunteer or spend time abroad through Erasmus+ and ESC exchanges will be able to participate fully and for the full duration of their exchange.Beyond the 2020/21 academic year, the government remains open to considering participation in elements of the next Erasmus+ programme, provided that the terms are in the UK’s interests. Future participation is subject to our ongoing negotiations with the EU. In parallel, the government is continuing to develop the option for a domestic alternative to Erasmus+, to ensure that we are prepared for every eventuality, and will publish information on a possible alternative, if appropriate, in due course.

Children: Coronavirus

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether schoolchildren will be required to wear face masks on school transport and buses during the covid-19 outbreak.

Nick Gibb: On 4 June, the Government announced that, as of Monday 15 June, face coverings should be used on public transport. This does not mean surgical masks, which we must keep for clinical settings. It means the kind of face covering you can easily make at home. There will be exceptions to the rule for some children, disabled people and those with breathing difficulties.We do not require children to wear face coverings on school transport, but they can wear one if they wish. School transport is provided specifically for the purpose of ensuring that children can attend school. It is limited to children travelling to school, and their travel assistants where necessary. Children do not travel on school transport at the same time as members of the public. The transport is arranged by local authorities for a planned number of children which means demand for services can be managed in a way which is not possible on public transport. This will allow children to maintain a 2 metre distance from other children not in their household, wherever possible. Additionally, school transport often carries the same children on a regular basis, which helps to reduce any risk of transmission.Children should follow the Department for Transport’s guidance on wearing face coverings when travelling on public transport. The guidance is available here: www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-safer-travel-guidance-for-passengers.

Ministry of Justice

Prisoners' Discharge Grants

Ms Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether he plans to increase the discharge grant to £80 for all prison leavers as a result of the increase in the grant for prisoners granted early release under the End of Custody Temporary Release scheme.

Ms Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of the £46 discharge grant in enabling prison leavers to live in the community until other legal sources of income become available to them.

Ms Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, on what basis the enhanced £80 discharge grant level was calculated for people released under the End of Custody Temporary Release scheme.

Ms Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the purpose is of the discharge grant for (a) prison leavers released under the End of Custody Temporary Release scheme and (b) other prison leavers.

Lucy Frazer: Where prisoners have reached the end of the custodial element of their sentence, the Discharge Grant is paid to eligible prisoners upon their release from prison. The Discharge Grant is entirely separate from the Subsistence Grant, which is payable to those who are eligible for release under the End of Custody Temporary Release (ECTR) scheme only.The purpose of both the Discharge Grant and the Subsistence Grant is to help prison leavers on release, so that they are supported while accessing other legal sources of income such as applying for benefits.The higher rate of the Subsistence Grant is set at £80 to reflect the more limited amount of time prisoners have had to prepare for their release under the ECTR scheme and therefore the possibility that they would not have received the full amount of time and resources they would usually have had to prepare for release.There are currently no plans to increase the Discharge Grant, but we will continue to keep this under review.

Prisoners' Release: Coronavirus

Ms Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the advice and support in relation to public health guidance given to young adult prison leavers during the covid-19 outbreak.

Ms Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent assessment he has made of levels of awareness, understanding and compliance with public health guidance among young adult prison leavers.

Lucy Frazer: The Government takes the health and safety of all prisoners, including young adults, very seriously. COVID-19 presents a unique set of challenges that we must address to keep prisoners safe. To mitigate these, we are operating a National Response Model in prisons and an Exceptional Delivery Model across probation.Good practice on basic hygiene and tackling the virus through social distancing is being promoted by staff, and via communication aids such as posters, throughout the secure estate. Support for young adults who have been released from custody also takes into account Public Health England guidance, and probation services are being delivered through increased supervision via telephone or other digital channels, in place of face-to-face appointments. In addition, support for this cohort continues to be informed by evidence-based information, which recognises that Young Adults have distinct needs relating to their maturity and development.Bespoke guidance for staff on helping young adults to follow and understand the COVID-19 health guidance has also been made available to Her Majesty’s Prisons and Probation (HMPPS) Staff. Probation staff are using this to inform how they have their initial discussions about following the Covid-19 health guidance and to check the young person’s understanding and compliance with it.

Prisoners' Release: Coronavirus

Ms Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many (a) young adult, (b) other female and (c) other male prison leavers have been released during the covid-19 outbreak without an address to go to.

Lucy Frazer: We are working closely across Government to ensure that all individuals released at risk of homelessness receive necessary support to help them secure somewhere to live.We have invested an additional £22m per annum over the remaining life of the Community Rehabilitation Company (CRC) contracts to deliver an enhanced Through the Gate resettlement service to people leaving prison to prepare them for release. The enhanced service includes the requirement that CRCs complete specific, tailored, tasks to help prisoners to secure and maintain settled accommodation, gain employment and manage debt and their financial affairs. We have put in place an ‘Exceptional Delivery Model’ (EDM) for CRC services during the current Covid-19 crisis, and have established seven National Probation Service and CRC Homelessness Prevention Taskforce Teams. There are six in England and one in Wales.Additionally, Government has now decided that because of public health concerns and public protection considerations, there is a need to provide accommodation for a larger cohort of prison leavers. The Ministry of Justice has secured appropriate funding for a time-limited period to support the provision of accommodation for all individuals released from prison at risk of homelessness. The scheme will run until 26th June at which point it will be reviewed, taking account of the situation at that time.The table below provides the number of offenders released from custody by accommodation circumstance on the first night. The data covers the period 23 March- 30 April 2020. Offenders Released from custodyRough sleepingOther Homeless***Unknown accommodation circumstance Young Adults*12891768188Other Males**5933198642933Other Females**592266388  *Young adults are offenders between 18 and 24** Other male and females are offenders 25 and over*** “Other homeless” refers to individuals who identify as homeless but have not been identified as sleeping rough. In some cases, it is not recorded whether an individual that is identified as homeless is rough sleeping Please note, offenders not managed by either the National Probation Service or a Community Rehabilitation Company (including those offenders subject to electronic monitoring) are not included in the dataset. Release on temporary licence (RoTL), End of Custody Temporary Release (ECTR), releases where the offender is subject to same-day recall to custody, and release from unsupervised short sentences are also not included.

Prisoners' Release: Mobile Phones

Ms Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many and what proportion of (a) young adult, (b) other female and (c) other male prison leavers were given a mobile phone and a credit package during (i) April and (ii) May 2020.

Ms Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many mobile phones will be available for prison leavers over the next three months.

Lucy Frazer: In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, probation is operating under an Exceptional Delivery Model (EDM) which prioritises public protection and offender management in the community. All Community Rehabilitation Companies (CRCs) across probation are operating EDMs during the current exceptional period. As a result, certain activities are reduced and resources are focused on managing the high risk and very high risk of harm offenders. Basic mobile phones have been purchased by the CRCs in order to maintain contact with offenders in the community who do not have access to a phone of their own, while they adhere to social distancing measures. The phones are only capable of voice communication and text communication and do not have internet access.As of 5 June, the total number of phones allocated to those in the community and on release from prison was 1,138. CRCs have purchased 8,095 phones with an additional 4,226 expected to be bought. We do not hold data on the number of phones allocated broken down by gender and age as requested. It is not possible to confirm how many phones will be allocated from June to August, but any demand from prison leavers who need a phone will be met.

Prison Accommodation: Construction

Ms Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much was spent on the construction and maintenance of temporary accommodation cells in prisons in England and Wales in (a) March, (b) April and (c) May 2020; and how much funding has been allocated to those purposes for each of (i) June, (ii) July, (iii) August, (iv) September, (v) October and (vi) November 2020.

Ms Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what plans his Department has made on the future use or decommissioning of the temporary accommodation cells constructed in prisons in England and Wales to reduce overcrowding during the covid-19 outbreak.

Lucy Frazer: The Government has invested in the temporary expansion of the prison estates as part of measures to implement cohorting; allowing staff to isolate prisoners with symptoms, shield the vulnerable and to quarantine new arrivals.The total spend on acquisition costs along with installation and associated costs, in providing temporary accommodation cells in England and Wales as at the end of May 2020, totalled £4.25m (cash terms, inc. VAT). With no spend in March, £0.16m in April and £4.09m in May.The use of, and expenditure on, this temporary accommodation is being kept under careful review and it will remain in place until it is no longer required.

Prison Accommodation: Technology

Ms Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 7 May 2020 to Question 41404, on Prison Accommodation: Technology, what plans his Department has for the roll-out of in-cell digital technology across the prison estate in England and Wales.

Lucy Frazer: The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on prison regimes, which has included the temporary suspension of social visits, has necessitated the use of a range of different technology options across the justice system.As previously noted, we have complemented the existing in-cell telephony programme with the deployment of secure mobile phones which can be used across those establishments without access to telephones within cells. Both these methods allow those who are self-isolating to maintain links outside of their cell. We have also begun to roll-out secure video calls across prisons to help prisoners maintain contact with their families.In-cell technology, such as tablets and laptops, has the potential to support the rehabilitative work that already takes place in prison by providing in-cell access to education and other rehabilitation opportunities. Our strategy is informed by the 2007 Farmer Report which highlights the needs of providing contact with families and the link between lack of contact and negative impacts on mental health and potential violence.We currently have in-cell digital technology in two adult male establishments and we are looking to roll-out in-cell technology for young people in Young Offender Institutes (YOIs) - HMP Feltham, HMP Werrington, HMP Wetherby and Cookham Wood YOI. We are continuing to deploy in-cell telephones across prisons in England and Wales.

Prisoners: Coronavirus

Ms Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many prisoners who were (a) new entrants, (b) inter-prison transfers and (c) recalls were not isolated within a reverse cohorting unit for 14 days before any mixing with the remainder of the prison population during May 2020.

Lucy Frazer: Prisons in England and Wales have closely followed guidance issued by Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) and public health authorities to protect prisoners and staff. Building on best available evidence to protect the most vulnerable and reduce transmission of infection, new cohorting strategies were developed by HMPPS (advised by public health authorities) and implemented from 31 March.Since 31 March, all inter-prison transfers have required approval by the HMPPS command structure before any transfer has taken place. Decisions by the HMPPS command structure to approve transfer have taken into account the capacity of reverse cohorting units to ensure any prisoners transferred between prisons, are able to be held separately from the remainder of the general population for 14 days. All new receptions into prison from court and recalls have similarly only been accepted into local prisons where there is adequate space for them to be held separately for 14 days. We do not record the number of prisoners processed through establishment reverse cohorting units centrally.

Probation: Finance

Ms Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of financial losses by third sector organisations on the viability of the Dynamic Framework for commissioning of outsourced probation services.

Lucy Frazer: Voluntary and third sector organisations play a critical role in supporting rehabilitation and helping offenders turn their lives around. The Ministry of Justice is working closely with Clinks, the umbrella group for third sector organisations in criminal justice, to ensure we harness the full range of expertise and experience in the sector as part of the future probation system. We are also engaging with the Crown Representative for VCSEs and directly with many organisations in the sector.Our plans for a Dynamic Framework will allow the National Probation Service to directly commission services in a way that encourages the participation of smaller suppliers and is responsive to the needs of local areas. We know that Covid-19 has had a significant impact on many third sector organisations which mean some may have limited capacity to participate in competitive processes. However, our engagement with the sector in the last couple of months makes us believe there is real benefit in launching these competitions to provide potential future opportunities for the market. Moreover, other commissioners will be able to use the Dynamic Framework for services once it is up and running.

Youth Custody: Females

Ms Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent assessment he has made of the potential merits of implementing a strategy for the health, welfare, education and rehabilitation of girls within the youth custodial estate in England and Wales.

Lucy Frazer: There are relatively few girls in the youth secure estate, however it is important to ensure that their needs do not get overlooked as these girls tend to have a range of complex needs.This is why the Youth Custody Service (YCS) is undertaking a specific programme of work to improve the way establishments support girls. This is implemented through a Girls Delivery Plan which outlines key activity to further improve services.The YCS is also in the process of developing an evidence-based Girls Strategy in partnership with NHS England. The Centre for Mental Health has been commissioned to build an evidence base on the needs of girls in youth custody and how they can best be met. This will include consultation with service users, staff and key stakeholders. Their recommendations will be used to develop a YCS Girls Strategy which will shape activity over the coming years.

Prisoners: Employment

Ms Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many and what proportion of prisoners undertaking paid employment in the community through Release on Temporary License in England and Wales have lost their employment since the restricted regime in prisons was introduced.

Lucy Frazer: Data on release on temporary licence (ROTL) is published quarterly and data covering March will be published in July, data covering April to June will be published in October.Prisons have been facing a significant challenge to minimise the impact of COVID-19 and have been working closely with Public Health England (PHE). Without action, PHE expected the infection curve would occur faster in prisons than in the general population, putting staff and prisoners at risk and overwhelming local NHS services. As part of a range of measures to avoid this and also to reflect the current public health restrictions on non-essential travel, on 24 March Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) suspended ROTL, except for key workers, such as those in essential transport and delivery roles, or for compelling, compassionate reasons.ROTL is a valuable resettlement tool but it also involves prisoners leaving and returning to prison from the community on a daily basis and so presents particular risks at this time. The need for the suspension is kept under review and fuller access to ROTL will be provided when and where it can be facilitated safely.

Prisons: Coronavirus

Ms Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what monitoring his Department is undertaking of any pattern of increase in incidents in (a) individual custodial facilities and (b) across the custodial estate in England and Wales of (i) self-harm, (ii) attempted suicide, (iii) suicide, (iv) violence between prisoners, (v) attacks on prison staff and (vi) mental health crises since the extended implementation of restricted regimes in response to the covid-19 outbreak.

Lucy Frazer: We are closely monitoring the impact of restricted regimes in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. This is taking place at both individual establishment and estate-wide level, and includes an oversight of the levels in the male and female estates and youth estate. Data on self-harm and assaults for this period is not yet available. Quarterly figures up to 31st March 2020 will be published on 30th July.Safety continues to be a priority during the current crisis, and we recognise that circumstances regarding COVID-19 may increase the risk of self-harm and violence for some prisoners.The most recent quarter up to 31st March saw the number of deaths decrease to 63, down from 74 in the three months to December 2019. We are learning from any recent deaths and will continue to monitor the impact of restricted regimes on the number of self-inflicted deaths across the estate.Information about the risks of isolation has been shared with Governors and we will continue to work to monitor and mitigate these as far as possible. We are continuing to provide care and support to people at risk of self-harm or suicide through ACCT (Assessment, Care in Custody and Teamwork) case management and provide a range of distraction packs and in-cell activities. We are also working with the Samaritans to ensure that the Listener peer support scheme continues to function effectively.

Prisons: Coronavirus

Liz Saville Roberts: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 2 June 2020 to Question 49084 on Prisons: Coronavirus, how many cases of covid-19 there have been in each prison in England and Wales as of 8 June 2020; and if he will publish that data on a weekly basis.

Lucy Frazer: The Government has put robust measures in place to protect staff and offenders from COVID-19 and introduce ‘compartmentalisation’, to isolate those prisoners with symptoms, shield the vulnerable and quarantine new arrivals.Overall, prisons are seeing a decline in the numbers of new cases. The data in the table below shows the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases broken down by prison as of Friday 5 June 2020. These figures reflect the total number of recorded positive cases of COVID-19 since the first confirmed cases in mid-March, not the number of live cases. It includes individuals that have recovered.The numbers reported will be affected by a number of variables, including the availability of testing locally which can result in differences between sites and regions and as self-reported (for staff) through HMPPS management lines for central collationEstablishmentStaff Cases Prisoner Cases Total Number of Cases by EstablishmentAltcourse241539Ashfield000Askham Grange404Aylesbury~0~Bedford6~~Belmarsh13720Berwyn323668Birmingham22~~Brinsford22527Bristol~0~Brixton0~~Bronzefield6~~Buckley Hall~~5Bullingdon~0~Bure~0~Cardiff242246Channings Wood15924Chelmsford10~11Coldingley5~~Cookham Wood~~~Dartmoor~~4Deerbolt8~~Doncaster12820Dovegate8~~Downview404Drake Hall254166Durham42446East Sutton Park000Eastwood Park~0~Elmley505Erlestoke~~~Exeter000Featherstone~~5Feltham A*~~~Feltham B*6~~Ford~~~Forest Bank459Foston Hall~~~Frankland12~~Full Sutton808Garth707Gartree25934Grendon000Guys Marsh000Hatfield~~5Haverigg~6~Hewell37946High Down14~~Highpoint12~~Hindley10~~Hollesley Bay~~~Holme House221638Hull~0~Humber411051Huntercombe~~5Isis4610Isle of Wight~0~Kirkham5~~Kirklevington Grange~0~Lancaster Farms~0~Leeds4~~Leicester6511Lewes~0~Leyhill000Lincoln~4~Lindholme10010Littlehey8614Liverpool20~~Long Lartin~~5Low Newton0~~Lowdham Grange~0~Maidstone~~~Manchester192039Medway (Adult)000Moorland~~~New Hall~5~North Sea Camp~0~Northumberland14~~Norwich606Nottingham~0~Oakwood241741Onley16723Parc A**~0~Parc B**4711Pentonville15419Peterborough Female***000Peterborough Male***16~~Portland000Prescoed4~~Preston361349Ranby7512Risley201636Rochester000Rye Hill6~~Send~0~Stafford505Stanford Hill0~~Stocken4~~Stoke Heath~4~Springhill0~~Styal~0~Sudbury~~4Swaleside~0~Swansea101222Swinfen Hall5611Thameside41014The Mount9514The Verne~0~Thorn Cross~0~Usk131629Wakefield~~6Wandsworth~11~Warren Hill000Wayland000Wealstun~0~Werrington000Wetherby~0~Whatton0~~Whitemoor10616Winchester23~~Woodhill24024Wormwood Scrubs14620Wymott141529Total9524851437 The symbol ~ denotes suppressed values of 3 or fewer (and totals that would allow values of 3 or fewer to be calculated) to avoid the risk of identifying individuals. *Data is split between Feltham A and Feltham B to account for different age groups**Data is split between Parc A and B to account for different age groups***Data is split for male and female sites at Peterborough The department is considering the content of its regular reporting schedule and how that could be expanded.

Nitrous Oxide: Prosecutions

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many prosecutions for the use of nitrous oxide have been brought in each year since the introduction of the Psychoactive Substances Act 2016.

Chris Philp: The Ministry of Justice has published data on the number of prosecutions and convictions in England & Wales up to December 2019. This data is available in the Principal offence proceedings and outcomes by Home Office offence code data tool available here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/888344/HO-code-tool-principal-offence-2019.xlsx Select the pull down for ‘Detailed Offence’, and in the field search bar type ‘psychoactive substance’ and select all the options that appear. The total number of prosecutions under the Psychoactive Substances Act 2016 in each year since 2016 can be found in row 31 of the pivot table. To identify the number of prosecutions specifically for use of nitrous oxide under the Psychoactive Substances Act 2016 would require a manual search of court records as this level of detail (specific substance) is not held within the courts proceedings database; which would be of disproportionate cost.

Prisoners' Release: Coronavirus

Navendu Mishra: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many prisoners from Stockport have been released under the Early Prison Release scheme during the covid-19 outbreak; and how many prisoners released during that period are resident in Stockport.

Lucy Frazer: On 4 April, this Government announced the End of Custody Temporary Release scheme (ECTR). This scheme enables risk-assessed prisoners, who are within two months of their release date, to be temporarily released from custody, as part of the national approach to managing public services during this challenging period. No high-risk offenders, including those convicted of violent or sexual offences, anyone of national security concern or a danger to children, will be considered for release, nor any prisoners who have not served at least half their custodial term.To date, no offenders released under this scheme have been released to addresses in Stockport.

Community Rehabilitation Companies: Coronavirus

Ms Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will make an assessment of the effect of the level of investment by community rehabilitation companies in (a) remote videoconferencing, (b) equipment and training for staff home working and (c) other forms of infrastructure on (i) staff health, safety and welfare, (ii) probation client safety and welfare, (iii) public health and (iv) the efficient performance of the services those organisations are contracted to provide during the covid-19 outbreak.

Lucy Frazer: As of week commencing 23rd March, all Community Rehabilitation Companies (CRCs) have been operating under the obligations within their Exceptional Delivery Models (EDM). As a result CRCs have adapted to an alternative way of working, albeit on a temporary basis, in order to adhere to the social distancing measures announced by the Prime Minister. All CRCs have a responsibility to ensure the health and wellbeing of their staff and service users during the pandemic.CRCs have invested in greater use of mobile technology to maintain levels of contact with offenders in the community in a safe and efficient manner, including the use of videoconferencing facilities such as Skype and WhatsApp. Staff are working from home and limiting unnecessary travel unless in exceptional circumstances. CRCs have been instructed to prioritise their caseload and continue to carry out face to face interventions for those in their cohort deemed at highest risk where it is safe and practicable to do so. Group sentence delivery including Unpaid Work and Accredited Programmes has been temporarily suspended. This is to safeguard both staff and service users, and the wider general public, from the risk of COVID infection.The EDMs are subject to robust assurance and compliance activities, which are carried out by the Authority on a regular basis to ensure that CRCs continue to operate to their contracted obligations and continue to deliver front line probation services to protect the public.

Prisoners: Death

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many (a) remand and (b) convicted prisoners have died on the prison estate in each of the last five years, by ethnicity.

Lucy Frazer: Please see the attached table showing the number of prisoners who have died on the prison estate, by sentence type and ethnicity, from 2015 to 2019. Our condolences are with the family and friends of the prisoners who have died.These figures are derived from the HMPPS Deaths in Prison Custody database. As classification of deaths may change following inquest or as new information emerges, numbers may change from time to time.We have accepted and acted upon the vast majority of recommendations from Prisons and Probation Ombudsman (PPO) investigations into deaths in custody, and regularly disseminate the PPO’s thematic reports and lessons learned bulletins.The Ministerial Board on Deaths in Custody is taking forward a programme of work aimed at minimising deaths in custody, and better supporting families if a death does occur.



Table
(Excel SpreadSheet, 9.86 KB)

Prison Officers: Ethnic Groups

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many prisoner officers are employed on the prison estate, by ethnicity.

Lucy Frazer: We have committed to increasing the diversity of our workforce and our target is to hire 14% of recruits from a BAME background by December 2020.We have also conducted an independent review of the prison officer recruitment process and are implementing improvements to reduce the time and cost to hire, increase the diversity of new recruits and ensure we attract the right people with the right skills.The number of band 3 to 5 prison officers in public sector prisons, by ethnicity as of 31st March 2020 is given in the following table.Table 1- Number of Band 3 to 5 Prison Officers1 in post in public sector prisons, by Ethnicity2, as at 31st March 2020EthnicityHeadcountAsian3332Black623Mixed360Other Ethnic Group100White16,681Unknown4,264Total22,360Notes1.Includes Band 3-4 / Prison Officer (incl specialists), Band 4 / Supervising Officer and Band 5 / Custodial Managers.2.Race is a self-declared, optional field.3.Includes Chinese

Prisons: Coronavirus

Lee Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department will take to protect prison staff from covid-19 when prison visits are resumed.

Lucy Frazer: Our National Framework, which sets out how we will take decisions about easing coronavirus-related restrictions in prisons, has been published on gov.uk.Social distancing and hygiene are the most effective means to reduce transmission and we are providing access to the right cleaning and hygiene products in prisons. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is critical to protect staff and those in our care where close contact is necessary and unavoidable. Our current PPE supplies are good, and we are making preparations and keeping demand for PPE under regular review as we progress our plans. We are consulting with unions and stakeholders on our strategy to ensure staff are confident in our gradual easing of restrictions and to keep prisoners informed.For visits specifically, we are developing safe working practices that adhere to public health guidance. This is challenging but as with the adaptations being made in society we will need to consider safe distancing, separation between those that should not have contact, temperature testing of visitors prior to entry and effective hygiene arrangements.

Road Traffic Offences: Convictions

Andrew Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many convictions there have been under section 42 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 for non-compliance with Regulation 97 of the Road Vehicles Regulations 1986 in (a) Sussex and (b) England.

Chris Philp: The Ministry of Justice has published data up to December 2019. The number of convictions under section 42 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 for non-compliance with Regulation 97 of the Road Vehicles Regulations 1986 in (a) Sussex and (b) England since 2015 are provided in the accompanying table.



Table
(Excel SpreadSheet, 14.18 KB)

Prisoners: Marriage

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many prisoners have married since 23 March 2020.

Lucy Frazer: The information requested is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Department for International Trade

Riot Control Weapons: Exports

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, to which countries the UK exports (a) rubber bullets, (b) riot shields and (c) tear gas.

Mr Ranil Jayawardena: The Government publishes Official Statistics (on a quarterly and annual basis) about export licences granted, refused and revoked to all destinations on GOV.UK. These reports contain detailed information on export licences issued, refused or revoked, by destination, including the overall value, type (e.g. Military, Other) and a summary of the items covered by these licences. These can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/strategic-export-controls-licensing-data.The data currently provides details of licences up to 31 December 2019. Information about the period 1 January to 31 March 2020 will be published on 14 July 2020 and data covering the period 1 April to 30 September 2020 will be published in October 2020.All export licence applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis against the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria (‘Consolidated Criteria’). In reaching a decision, the Department for International Trade receives advice from a number of Departments including the Ministry of Defence and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Together, we draw on all available information, including reports from NGOs and our diplomatic missions. The Consolidated Criteria provides a thorough risk assessment framework and requires us to think hard about the impact of licensing any equipment for export. These are not decisions my Department takes lightly, and we will not license the export of items where to do so would be inconsistent with the Consolidated Criteria.

Coronavirus: Israel

Greg Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps she is taking to facilitate exports from Israeli companies that are developing technologies to tackle covid-19.

Mr Ranil Jayawardena: The British Embassy in Tel Aviv is following Israeli research and innovation related to COVID-19 closely, including in the technology sector. We have facilitated exchanges between United Kingdom and Israeli public health and scientific experts to discuss testing, epidemic management strategies, treatments and vaccine research, as well as cooperation on medical equipment.

Medical Equipment: Israel

David Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps she is taking to ensure that the UK benefits from Israeli thermal scanning technologies to detect covid-19.

Mr Ranil Jayawardena: The British Embassy in Tel Aviv is following Israeli research and innovation related to COVID-19 closely, including in the technology sector. We have facilitated exchanges between United Kingdom and Israeli public health and scientific experts to discuss testing, epidemic management strategies, treatments and vaccine research, as well as cooperation on medical equipment.

Trade Agreements: Dispute Resolution

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, how many cases have been taken against the UK under investor-state dispute settlement provisions and what the outcome was of those cases.

Mr Ranil Jayawardena: The United Kingdom has never had an investor-state dispute settlement case against her that proceeded to arbitration. The United Kingdom has more than 90 Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs) in force with countries across the world. HM Government has made clear that our investment policy will continue to protect the United Kingdom’s right to regulate in the public interest.

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Buildings: Energy

Daisy Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of enabling local authorities to retain their power to require higher energy performance standards for new houses.

Christopher Pincher: The Government remains committed to meeting its target of net zero emissions by 2050 and recognises the important contribution that the energy efficiency of buildings has to make in meeting it. In October 2019, we launched the first stage of a two-part consultation on Part L and Part F of the Building Regulations. We proposed an ambitious uplift in the energy efficiency of new homes through the introduction of a Future Homes Standard from 2025. We expect that homes built to the Future Homes Standard will have carbon dioxide emissions 75-80 per cent lower than those built to current Building Regulations standards, which means they will be fit for the future, with low carbon heating and very high fabric standards.As a stepping stone to the Future Homes Standard, we have consulted on a meaningful and achievable increase to the energy efficiency standards for new homes in 2020. The preferred option set out in consultation is a standard that should result in a 31 per cent reduction in emissions, compared to current standards.We have proposed a stringent minimum standard for energy efficiency, to be applied across the country, to address issues of ambition, consistency, offsetting and targeting. This means that there may no longer be any need for local planning authorities to set higher standards at a local level. Our research suggests that few local planning authorities set higher standards, but those who do often set a 19 per cent improvement over 2013 standards. Our 2020 proposals will see a 31 per cent improvement over 2013 standards. In some local areas carbon offsetting schemes form part of the energy efficiency framework for buildings; and in others energy efficiency standards are targeted at specific kinds of building work. A single, national standard may minimise any confusion and uncertainty for local planning authorities, and better support the growth of supply chains of key products required to deliver the Future Homes Standard.The Future Homes Standard consultation closed on 7 February. The responses we received will be considered carefully, and a Government response will be published in due course.

Parking: Private Sector

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many private parking operators have had their access to DVLA data blocked since the introduction of the Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019.

Mr Simon Clarke: We are currently working to implement the Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019. The British Standards Institution (BSI) have convened a stakeholder group to write the Code, comprising representatives from the parking industry, consumer groups, standards bodies and the retail sector. A first draft of the Code has now been produced. It will be subject to a public consultation in the coming months place to give the parking industry, the public and other interested parties the opportunity to have a say.

Parking: Private Sector

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he has taken to encourage private car park operators to (a) lower and (b) scrap their fares during the covid-19 outbreak.

Mr Simon Clarke: While the private parking industry is currently self-regulating, government has been collaborating closely with the industry during the response to the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) outbreak. The private parking appeals services voluntarily suspended processing new appeals, meaning that parking operators are unable to pursue charges against a motorist while an appeal has been registered. Many operators have offered free car parking to NHS workers in private car parks, and government has been working with operators, active travel firms and businesses to explore how car parking can be used to promote cycling and walking as part of the recovery effort.

Rented Housing: Coronavirus

Dr Rupa Huq: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government,  what representations he has received from landlords and tenants organisations on a potential extension to  the protection given to renters during the covid-19 outbreak.

Christopher Pincher: We regularly engage with a range of stakeholders on different issues relating to the private and social rented sector.On Friday June 5 2020 the Government announced that the current suspension of evictions from social or private rented accommodation will be extended by 2 months until 23 August 2020. This means that no action to evict a tenant will proceed before 24 August 2020. The emergency measures in the Coronavirus Act, which require landlords to give at least 3 months' notice to evict tenants, are unaffected by this and remain in place until 30 September 2020.We will also continue to work with the judiciary, legal representatives and the advice sector on arrangements, including new rules, to ensure that when the moratorium on evictions ends, the courts are better able to address the need for appropriate protection of all parties, including those shielding from coronavirus. This is to ensure that judges have all the information necessary to make just decisions and that the most vulnerable tenants can get the help they need.

Regeneration: Urban Areas

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking support the redesign and regeneration of the high street after the covid-19 outbreak.

Mr Simon Clarke: Government appreciates that all high streets, big or small, are a crucial part of our communities and local economies, creating jobs, nurturing small businesses and injecting billions of pounds into our economy. We want to see fruitful hubs where people live, shop, use services, and spend their leisure time, and that includes a welcoming and safe night-time economy.Government recognises that this is a challenging time for everyone in the country and COVID-19 is having a significant impact on our high streets and town centres. That is why we have provided a £330 biilion package of support for businesses in recognition of the disruption caused by Covid-19. This support builds on an ongoing programme of initiatives put in place to support our high streets and town centres in the long term, including:An accelerated £1 billion Future High Streets Fund as part of the £3.6 billion Towns Fund to support local areas in England to renew and reshape town centres and high streets;The High Streets Task Force, supporting local leaders in their work revitalising their high streets and town centres by providing proactive support to local areas to develop data-driven innovative strategies and connect local areas to relevant experts;Permitted development rights to support change of use on the high street.On 25 May, government announced a new £50 million fund, Reopening High Streets Safely Fund. Councils across England will share the additional funding to support the safe reopening of high streets and other commercial areas. The money will allow local authorities to put in place additional measures to establish a safe trading environment for businesses and customers, particularly in high streets. Expenditure for reimbursement under this grant will be eligible from 1 June 2020 and the project will run to the end of March 2021. This funding comes on top of the Government’s comprehensive package of support for business and workers during the economic emergency.

Local Government: Coronavirus

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what support he is providing to local authorities to enable them to restructure their local economies after the covid-19 outbreak.

Mr Simon Clarke: The Government is working with a range of local growth partners - including local authorities, mayors and Local Enterprise Partnerships in England - to coordinate our activity. I chair an Economic Recovery Working Group, providing a forum to bring together local, regional, and national thinking on recovery and discuss the challenges affecting different places.To support this work, the Government has now made £3.2 billion available to local authorities through an un-ringfenced grant so they can address pressures they are facing in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. MHCLG has also announced a £50 million Reopening High Streets Safely Fund to address the impact of unwinding economic support schemes, and address scarring in town centres. The 2019 Conservative Manifesto committed to creating a UK Shared Prosperity Fund which binds together the whole of the United Kingdom, tackling inequality and deprivation in each of our four nations. Final decisions on the design of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund will need to be taken after a cross-Government Spending Review, as we develop a national approach to recovery.

Local Government: Coronavirus

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the covid-19 outbreak, whether his Department plans to review local authority recovery plans.

Mr Simon Clarke: As the Government eases the social distancing guidelines, MHCLG is engaging with all local authorities in England to understand their readiness for restarting the economy, and to provide support where possible.We have written to all local authorities to encourage them to take the lead in restarting their local areas and officials continue to engage with all local authorities to discuss their preparations for restarting their local economies, and will be holding follow-up conversations with groups of authorities to acquire intelligence, collate examples of best practice, and to provide further support.Following successful meetings with Greater Manchester, Liverpool and the West Midlands, MHCLG Ministers are continuing with a small series of Regional Stocktakes as case studies across England which are providing insight into the challenges that apply across all local areas.Government has now made £3.2 billion available to local authorities through an un-ringfenced grant so they can address pressures they are facing in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The package recognises the additional costs and pressures on finances councils are facing as a result of the current crisis. It demonstrates the Government’s commitment to making sure councils have the resources they need to support their communities through this challenging time.In addition, the Economic Recovery Working Group provides a forum to bring together local, regional, and national thinking on recovery, and will facilitate close coordination as the Government’s own recovery planning develops. We recognise that it is crucial to bring the expertise and geographic diversity of local government to bear on those discussions.

Waste Disposal: Applications

Mike Amesbury: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many applications were submitted to the Building Safety Fund on (a) the first day that scheme went live and (b) in the first five days of that scheme going live.

Christopher Pincher: Registration for the Building Safety Fund opened 1 June, while the application process will open in July 2020. During the first day of registration we received 135 completed registration forms and as of midnight on 4/5 June, we have received 329 completed registration forms.

House Insurance

Mike Amesbury: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what the outcome was of the round table meeting on 13 May 2020 between his Department and the Association of British Insurers on reducing the costs of building insurance.

Christopher Pincher: The Government is aware that concerns about cladding have caused insurance premiums to rise for some tall buildings – and that this is causing significant difficulties for affected leaseholders. It is imperative that building owners and managing agents engage with brokers early and are as upfront as possible to ensure they can get the coverage they need. Government is continuing to engage with the insurance industry to find solutions to this issue.

Local Government: Coronavirus

Mr Stephen Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps the Government is taking to ensure that local areas that experience a second spike in relation to covid-19 receive additional funding to tackle that spike.

Mr Simon Clarke: The government has put together an unprecedented package, committing over £27 billion to local areas, to ensure all councils and their communities have the resources they need to continue fighting the coronavirus pandemic. This includes £3.2 billion made available to councils so they can address pressures they are facing in response to the covid-19 pandemic. This funding is un-ringfenced, recognising local authorities are best placed to decide how to meet the major covid-19 service pressures in their local area.We will continue to work with local government over the coming weeks to ensure we have a collective understanding of the costs they are facing.

Local Government: Coronavirus

Mr Stephen Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what support his Department plans to provide to local authorities that will be required to implement local lockdowns as a result of a second spike in covid-19.

Mr Simon Clarke: My Department has been working with the Joint Biosecurity Centre (JBC) and the Department of Health and Social Care to develop a framework for the local management of further outbreaks. In addition, all upper tier local authorities have been asked to develop local outbreak control plans based on the existing statutory responsibilities of their Directors of Public Health. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government , alongside other relevant Departments, is considering whether further powers are required for local authorities to manage future outbreaks in line with these plans.

Local Government: Coronavirus

Mr Stephen Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps the Government is taking to ensure coordination between local authorities in a region in the event that local lockdowns are required at regional level.

Mr Simon Clarke: My Department has been working with the Joint Biosecurity Centre (JBC) and the Department of Health and Social Care to develop a framework for the local management of further outbreaks. In addition, all upper tier local authorities have been asked to develop local outbreak control plans based on the existing statutory responsibilities of their Directors of Public Health. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government , alongside other relevant Departments, is considering whether further powers are required for local authorities to manage future outbreaks in line with these plans.

Local Government: Coronavirus

Mr Stephen Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, who will hold the decision-making power over local lockdowns in the event that an area without an elected Mayor that experiences a second spike of covid-19.

Mr Simon Clarke: My Department has been working with the Joint Biosecurity Centre (JBC) and the Department of Health and Social Care to develop a framework for the local management of further outbreaks. In addition, all upper tier local authorities have been asked to develop local outbreak control plans based on the existing statutory responsibilities of their Directors of Public Health. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, alongside other relevant Departments, is considering whether further powers are required for local authorities to manage future outbreaks in line with these plans.

Local Government: Coronavirus

Mr Stephen Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what the Government's definition is of a geographical location in the event that local lockdowns are required.

Mr Simon Clarke: My Department has been working with the Joint Biosecurity Centre (JBC) and the Department of Health and Social Care to develop a framework for the local management of further outbreaks. In addition, all upper tier local authorities have been asked to develop local outbreak control plans based on the existing statutory responsibilities of their Directors of Public Health. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, alongside other relevant Departments, is considering whether further powers are required for local authorities to manage future outbreaks in line with these plans.

Housing: Immigrants

David Linden: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Government’s covid-19 recovery strategy, whether he plans to (a) issue guidance to local authorities on accommodating persons with no recourse to public funds, (b) list the legislative provisions that local authorities may use to accommodate those persons and (c) fund local authorities to accommodate those persons.

Mr Simon Clarke: The Government is aware of concerns about those with no recourse to public funds experiencing homelessness during the COVID-19 crisis.We are ensuring local authorities are supported, with £3.2 million in targeted funding to help support individuals who are sleeping rough off the streets, and an additional £3.2 billion provided to local authorities as part of the wider government response to the COVID-19 pandemic.This funding has been provided to help local authorities to reduce risks to public health and to support individuals on the basis of need.The legal position on those with no recourse to public funds has not been amended.The legal position on those with no recourse to public funds has not been amended, and the Government expects local authorities to use the funding they have been provided to support people who are sleeping rough, and to minimise unnecessary risks to public health, acting within the law.

Housing: Construction

Alex Sobel: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to ensure that housing developers follow planning regulations and are granted permission to build only structures that meet planning standards as a result of his reforms to the planning system.

Christopher Pincher: National planning policy is clear that proposed development of poor design that fails to improve the character and quality of an area should be refused, and that the quality of approved development should not be diminished by subsequent changes to the permitted scheme. It is the role of local planning authorities’ enforcement teams to ensure that development is built in accordance with the planning permission granted.

Local Government Finance: Coronavirus

Anthony Mangnall: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what further support he will allocate to Parish Councils who have used a large proportion of their budgets responding to the covid-19 outbreak.

Mr Simon Clarke: We applaud the assistance that many parish councils are providing to their local communities in the current crisis. The government does not have powers to offer financial support to parish councils, which are funded through a precept collected from within the overall council tax paid by the residents of the parish. We encourage parish councils to speak to their principal authority.

Multiple Occupation: Coronavirus

Robbie Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether under covid-19 lockdown measures landlords of houses in multiple occupation are able to move tenants into properties where other tenants are residing.

Christopher Pincher: On 13 May we announced that anyone in England could now move home as long as they followed the advice at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/government-advice-on-home-moving-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak.This includes those moving into an occupied House in Multiple Occupation (HMO): during viewings, HMO tenants should stay out of indoor common areas, such as kitchens, bathrooms or sittings areas. They could remain inside their own private room with the doors closed.Tenant safety should be landlords’ and letting agents’ first priority in this or any other move.

Local Government: Equality

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what instructions he has issued to local authorities on undertaking a race equality audit.

Mr Simon Clarke: The Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government has not issued any guidance on this issue.We are aware that the Government's Race Disparity Unit (RDU) is currently in dialogue with several city councils and local authorities across the North, the Midlands and the South, to support their endeavours to replicate the Race Disparity Audit model. They are keen to see how their data can be used to identify and act on areas of local challenge. Through these collaborations the RDU is also seeking to improve the quality and range of local authority data to support its analysis of regional variances.

Housing: Coronavirus

Afzal Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what scientific advice his Department received in advance of updated the guidance entitled, Government advice on home moving during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

Christopher Pincher: The Department was determined that the housing market should re-open safely and we worked closely with Public Health England in developing this guidance.

Ministry of Defence

Ministry of Defence: Buildings

Rachel Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer on 15 May 2020 to Question 43779 on Civil Servants, at how many multi-hub locations employees of his Department work together with employees of another Department or agency in London managed by the Government Property Agency; what the addresses are of those locations; and what other Departments and agencies employ staff at those locations.

Jeremy Quin: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to her on 11 June 2020 by the Minister of State at the Cabinet Office to Question 54314.



Cabinet Office: Buildings
(Word Document, 13.79 KB)

Department for Work and Pensions

Department for Work and Pensions: Buildings

Rachel Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer on 15 May 2020 to Question 43779 on Civil Servants, at how many multi-hub locations employees of her Department work together with employees of another Department or agency in London managed by the Government Property Agency; what the addresses are of those locations; and what other Departments and agencies employ staff at those locations.

Mims Davies: DWP does not occupy any locations in London that are managed by the Government Property Agency. I refer you to the answer given by my hon. Friend at the Cabinet Office, PQ54314

Social Security Benefits: Medical Assessments

Nickie Aiken: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she plans to make permanent the offer of phone or paper assessments for benefits currently in place during covid-19 outbreak.

Justin Tomlinson: Paper based reviews have always been a feature of Personal Independence Payment assessments and Work Capability Assessments and wherever possible Assessment Providers will conduct a paper-based review. Telephone-based assessments for suitable cases are a temporary measure replacing face-to-face assessments, which were suspended across all health and disability benefits from 17 March due to Covid-19. We are currently in the process of reviewing this measure in light of the latest public health advice and will confirm next steps as soon as possible.

Universal Credit: Coronavirus

Sarah Champion: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she plans to amend the availability for work requirements for claimants of universal credit with child care responsibilities as a result of amended school timetables during the covid-19 outbreak.

Will Quince: Where a claimant is the lead carer of a child under the age of 13, their work related requirements can be tailored to take into account amended school timetables during the covid-19 outbreak.

Jobcentres: Staff

Seema Malhotra: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many full-time equivalent work coaches were employed by her Department in (a) January, (b) February, (c) March, (d) April and (e) May 2020; and how many additional work coaches she plans to recruit before August 2020.

Mims Davies: Holding answer received on 11 June 2020



For the period January 2020 to May 2020, approximately 13,200 full-time equivalent (FTE) work coaches were employed by the Department. During this period, we have seen an unprecedented number of new benefit claims, with work coaches and thousands of DWP staff moving roles to ensure these claims were processed and claimants paid on time.

Health and Safety Executive: Finance

Seema Malhotra: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the annual budget of the Health and Safety Executive (a) is in 2020-21 and (b) was in each of the last 10 years.

Mims Davies: Holding answer received on 11 June 2020



The table below shows the annual budget of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in the last 10 years up to 2020-21:  10/11 £M11/12 £M12/13 £M13/14 £M14/15 £M15/16 £M16/17 £M17/18 £M18/19 £M19/20 £M20/21 £M   Government Funding203175159154138134133128126128133Income12411611712581909193919596Annual Spending327291276279219224224221217223229 Notes Figures provided are based on net operating expenditure reported in HSE’s Annual Report and Accounts and excludes Capital spend.Figures provided prior to 2014/15 include the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) which became an independent statutory public corporation on 1 April 2014.The 2019/20 figures are as per the draft Annual Report and Accounts due to be published in July 2020.The 2020/21 figures are as per the budget settlement with DWP and exclude any additional COVID-19 funding.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Fishing Vessels

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to expand the UK's fishing fleet in preparation for the cessation of the application of the EU Common Fishing Policy.

Victoria Prentis: When the UK is an independent coastal state, we will be seeking a fairer share of quota for our fishing fleets across the UK. We will also have the opportunity to design a domestic set of fisheries policies more suited to our needs than under the Common Fisheries Policy. Decisions on fleet capacity (where in some cases we currently have an excess of capacity) depend on a wide variety of factors, including the level of quota available, and, most crucially of all, the long-term sustainability of our key stocks.

Fish: Consumption

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking with the UK fishing sector to encourage consumption of fish caught by that sector throughout the UK.

Victoria Prentis: UK food is renowned for its quality, and high standards of food safety, traceability, animal welfare and sustainability. Defra will always champion UK producers and support them in producing more of our great British food, including seafood. Defra is currently working in partnership with Seafish on the Sea For Yourself campaign, an initiative to promote seafood species caught in UK waters. The campaign directs consumers across the UK to the Fish is the Dish website, with tips and recipes to show consumers how they can cook these species, as well as to information on online sales to direct them to websites where they can buy local fish and shellfish. The campaign launched in March, was set up to support the fishing industry to encourage people to eat and buy UK seafood. Following our exit from the EU, we are taking steps to raise awareness of the wide number of species and opportunities that can be found in UK waters. Defra has also announced a £1 million Domestic Seafood Supply Scheme to help seafood businesses in England sell their products locally and nationally. Managed by the Marine Management Organisation, the scheme has already allocated close to £900,000 to help increase the supply and consumption of domestically caught seafood in markets across England.

Fruit and Vegetables: Production

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans the Government has to expand growing vegetables and fruit in the UK to reduce food miles on imports.

Victoria Prentis: The Government recognises the crucial role our horticulture industry plays in feeding the country. We are fortunate in the UK to have the climate, landscape, and entrepreneurial farmers and growers to enable us to produce world-class fruit and vegetables. We will always champion our farmers and growers, supporting them to provide a sustainable supply of healthy, home grown food produced to high environmental standards. The Rural Development Programme for England Countryside Productivity Small Grant (CPSG) scheme provides grant support which helps farmers buy the equipment they need to boost productivity and increase yields. Round 2 of CPSG, was launched in 2019 and included equipment such as direct drill, chlorophyll meters and fruit ripeness spectrometers to help support the productivity of the horticultural sector. A third round of CPSG is being planned for launch in autumn 2020. The Agriculture Bill will provide powers to give financial support to anyone starting, or improving the productivity of, an agricultural, horticultural or forestry activity. Defra will continue working with the horticulture industry to consider the best way to support them, to allow them to grow and sell more fresh produce.

Locusts: Africa and South Asia

Ian Lavery: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effect of recent locust swarms in Africa and South Asia on the supply of imported food into the UK.

Victoria Prentis: We continuously monitor a range of regularly reported and publicly available statistics and data on supply of food to the UK. Through these close observations, we are aware of how locust swarms are affecting parts of Africa and Asia, and their impact on the countries affected. There is currently no specific impact on trade volumes as a direct result of the locust swarms.  We are also including a new requirement in the Agriculture Bill for the UK Government to report on food security to Parliament at least once every five years, demonstrating the importance we place on this subject. The report will contain information on food supply including the role of strong domestic production alongside diverse sources of supply. The report is a major undertaking and will draw evidence from a wide range of sources including an analysis of the key trends. The UK has a robust and reliable food industry that is experienced in dealing with scenarios that can affect food supply, from adverse weather damaging crops to transport issues abroad. The size and diversity of the industry is a key factor in enabling the food sector to remain resilient to food supply chain disruptions. The expertise, capability, levers and resilience to plan for and respond to food supply disruption lies within the industry.The Government has well established ways of working with the food industry on potential disruptions to the supply chain, and we will continue to work closely with stakeholders and industry to support preparations for a range of scenarios. We also engage widely with international partners to share information and good practice guidance regarding the security and resilience of food supply.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Buildings

Rachel Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer on 15 May to Question 43779 on Civil Servants, in how many multi-hub locations employees of his Department are working together with employees of another Department or agency in London managed by the Government Property Agency; what the addresses are of those locations; and what other Departments and agencies employ staff at those locations.

Victoria Prentis: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to PQ 54314 on 12 June 2020. [https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2020-06-03/54314/]

Birds: Pest Control

Greg Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many applications for individual licences were made in 2020 for the control of common pest and predatory corvids to conserve wildlife within European protected sites and 300m buffer zones; and how many of those have been granted.

Rebecca Pow: Natural England has received approximately 160 applications to control Corvid species on or close to European protected sites. To date, 26 of these applications have been granted, 8 rejected, with 126 still to be determined or have been withdrawn. For some applications, not all corvid species for which a licence has been requested have been granted.

Seagulls: Pest Control

Greg Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effect of restrictions imposed by Natural England on the ability of land managers to control the impact of gulls.

Rebecca Pow: Herring and lesser black-backed gull populations have both declined in recent decades. An assessment carried out by Natural England (NE) has indicated that the scale of activity carried out under licences in recent years, were it to continue, would be above a sustainable level and would be likely to have a harmful impact on the population levels of both species. For this reason, it has been necessary to scale back the lethal control of these gull species. In rural areas, where populations overall are known to be in decline, NE has set upper ‘safe’ number of birds that could be killed. Upper ‘safe’ levels have not been identified for lethal control in urban populations of gulls, as these are faring better. Beyond a class licence for air safety, gull control is now via individual licence. In taking this decision, it was recognised that there would be an impact on the level of control particularly in rural areas, but this was considered necessary given the situation, so that licensed activity would need to be prioritised. NE considers the strength of need in each licence application individually but generally protecting human life and health is the overriding priority. Any control to be undertaken under other purposes such as preventing serious damage and conserving wild birds and flora or fauna will need to be targeted. If applicants do not receive an individual licence, they may still be able to achieve some of their objectives by using alternative non-lethal measures.

Wildlife: Licensing

Greg Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to work with stakeholders to ensure that the wildlife licensing system is fit for purpose.

Rebecca Pow: The Department is in the process of carrying out a review of General Licences for certain bird species. This has involved extensive stakeholder engagement including a public survey which generated over 4,400 responses and a series of workshops with licence users and other stakeholders. The resulting General Licences will draw on a detailed assessment of the scientific literature, identified user needs and stakeholder views and knowledge. To further help stakeholders we intend to allow time for them to familiarise themselves with the new licences before the changeover takes place.

Biodiversity and Nature Conservation

Greg Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans he has to amend the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 after the transition period to increase the effectiveness of protections for vulnerable species and increase biodiversity.

Rebecca Pow: The Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 will be amended at the end of the Transition Period under powers in the EU (Withdrawal) Act 2018. This will ensure that the regulatory framework in this area maintains existing environmental protections and that the UK continues to meet its international obligations.We have no other plans to amend the Regulations.

Wildlife: Licensing

Greg Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what comparative assessment he has made of the merits of a risk-based approach to wildlife licensing compared to one based on the EU interpretation of the precautionary principle.

Rebecca Pow: The Government’s policy on wildlife licensing already follows a risk-based approach. We believe that people should be free to manage wildlife within the law where they need to do so. Legislation provides statutory authorities with the parameters within which they may licence otherwise prohibited activities where there is a demonstrable need to do so. In taking a licensing decision the authorities balance a number of risks and issues before coming to a decision, involving taking a precautionary view of the risks where necessary in the circumstances.

Zoos: Coronavirus

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what financial support his Department plans to provide to zoological institutions which have been affected by the covid-19 outbreak to ensure that they can continue their conservation and animal welfare work.

Victoria Prentis: I refer the hon. Member to the replies given to my hon. Friend, the Member for North Devon, Selaine Saxby, on 27 April 2020, PQ UIN 37936, the hon. Member for Dunfermline and West Fife, Douglas Chapman, on 11 May 2020, PQ UIN 43675 and the hon. Member for York Central, Rachael Maskell on 19 May 2020, PQ UIN 45322.The Zoos Support Fund is open for applications until 19 July 2020.As announced by the Prime Minister on 10 June, outdoor areas of zoos and safari parks will be allowed to reopen from 15 June, subject to appropriate social distancing measures being in place. This includes keeping indoor exhibitions, such as reptile houses and those in aquariums, closed, and ensuring other amenities like cafes offer take-away services only.The move follows close work by the Government with the zoo industry to ensure visitor numbers can be managed and safeguards are put in place.The decision to relax restrictions on these select outdoor attractions is part of the Government’s careful approach to easing the lockdown in phases, guided by the advice of scientific and medical experts and the fact the risk of transmission is much lower outdoors.Officials continue to meet weekly with BIAZA (British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums) and with the CEOs of the largest charitable zoos and aquariums in England providing a valuable forum to monitor concerns and seek insights from key sector representatives on current issues.

UN Convention on Biological Diversity

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if the Government will take steps to negotiate a deal at the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity which recognises the importance of protecting Evolutionarily Distinct and Globally Endangered species.

Rebecca Pow: The UK’s objective for 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity is to agree a framework that spurs action and the transformative changes needed for halting and reversing global biodiversity loss. We will promote ambitious and practical targets, including targets to enhance ecosystem resilience and species recovery, supported by strengthened implementation mechanisms that are consummate with the scale of the challenge.

Biodiversity: Coronavirus

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to published academic research on the link between destruction of natural habitats and the emergence of novel infectious diseases, what assessment he has made of the value of protecting biodiversity as a result of the covid-19 outbreak.

Rebecca Pow: I refer to the answer I gave on 1 May 2020 (PQ 38461). The Department has not yet made a full assessment of the link between the destruction of biodiversity and habitats on levels of emerging zoonoses. The recent 2019 IPBES Global Assessment Report on biodiversity and ecosystem services highlights this as a factor potentially exacerbating the emergence of infectious diseases in wildlife, domestic animals and people. We are continuing to review the evidence and the complex links between the destruction of natural habitats and infectious diseases, to enable us to take an informed view as soon as possible.

Beverage Containers: Recycling

Steve Brine: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when he plans to introduce the deposit return scheme for plastic bottles.

Rebecca Pow: The Government committed in its manifesto to introduce a Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) for drinks containers to incentivise people to recycle plastic and glass, and is seeking powers to do so in the Environment Bill. Since consulting on its introduction in 2019, the Government has been developing proposals for a DRS for drinks containers using further evidence and ongoing engagement with stakeholders. The scope of the scheme is being further developed and will be presented in a second consultation. The Government is reviewing its implementation timeline for the proposed introduction of the scheme, which will be announced in due course.

Chemicals: EU Law

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate his Department has made of the amount of chemical safety information the UK will lose access to when it can no longer access the REACH database after the end of the transition period.

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate his Department has made of the financial effect on UK businesses of (a) replicating chemical safety dossiers that exist in the REACH database and (b) being required to register with two systems.

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate his Department has made of the number of chemicals that will require lower levels of safety information in a UK only chemical regulation system.

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what comparative assessment his Department has made of the number of chemicals that will need to be regulated in (a) a UK only market and (b) the EU REACH regulations.

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will publish the impact assessment on seeking associate membership of the European Chemicals Agency.

Rebecca Pow: The preparations we made for the possibility of a no deal exit mean that we are well placed to be ready with our own independent regulatory regime for 1 January 2021. At the end of the Transition Period the UK will have its own independent chemicals regulatory framework, UK REACH. We will bring REACH in to UK law and put in place the systems and capacity to ensure the effective management and control of chemicals which safeguard human health and the environment and can respond to emerging risks. UK REACH will retain the principles and fundamental approach of the EU REACH system, with its aims of ensuring a high level of protection of human health and the environment, as well as enhancing innovation and competitiveness. UK REACH maintains the core principle of EU REACH of “no data no market” to provide assurance that businesses understand the risks of chemicals they are using, and how to manage those risks, and to give UK regulators the information they need to manage risks to the environment and to UK consumers. We will aim to keep the transition to UK REACH as simple and straightforward as possible. We are considering a range of measures to minimise the burdens and costs for businesses. This includes the grace period provisions we have out in place to enable industry to comply with UK REACH through a phased transitional period. Defra's estimates of the costs to industry broadly align with those identified by industry, and we continue to explore a range of further steps to minimise the burdens on businesses. As part of that process we have been undertaking a focused evidence-gathering exercise to better understand costs and practical options to reduce burdens on industry. This has involved a number of key stakeholders including businesses of different sizes across the supply chain, trade associations and NGOs. We are also looking to reduce the cost to business, through the ongoing negotiations between the UK and the EU for a Free Trade Agreement. In February, the Government published our approach to negotiating our future relationship with the EU. That includes a proposal for a chemicals annex as part of the EU Free Trade Agreement, to facilitate trade and encourage high levels of protection for the environment and human health. To support businesses to meet the separate regulatory requirements of the UK and EU markets, we aim to agree data and information sharing mechanisms with the EU, in line with the relevant provisions set out in UK and EU regulation and existing third-country mechanisms. On 19 May the Government published its draft Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (CFTA) with the EU text. Negotiations are ongoing and progress will be kept under review. The Government published “EU Exit: Long-term economic impacts” in November 2018. This paper provides estimates of the economic impact of a range of future trading relationships with the EU. Our commitment to having control of our own laws and on not remaining within the jurisdiction of the European Courts of Justice (ECJ), means that we are not seeking associate membership of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) and participation in EU REACH.

Barbecues

Jake Berry: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to protect (a) Areas Of Outstanding Natural Beauty, (b) the West Pennine Moors and other moorland areas and (c) National Parks from fires caused by the use of disposable barbecues.

Jake Berry: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will bring forward legislative proposals for a seasonal ban on the use of disposable barbecues away from the home in Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, moorland areas and National Parks to help prevent fires after prolonged periods of dry weather.

Rebecca Pow: We are clear that everyone should follow the Countryside Code. A key part of Government strategy is to get clear and consistent messages to the media which highlight the problem and promote better behaviour in the countryside and encourage a partnership response. There are existing powers in legislation which can be used by authorities to regulate and prohibit the lighting of fires on Access Land in Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs) and National Parks. Current ‘Byelaw’ legislation allows for local authorities to restrict and enforce the use of disposable barbecues in parks and public spaces. Government has no plans for additional legislative proposals to introduce a seasonal ban on the use of disposable barbecues. Government is working with AONBs, National Park Authorities; and other Government departments to promote a series of guidance videos to educate users about travelling to and spending time outdoors safely in the wider countryside. This includes an updated Countryside Code which advises not to have barbeques or fires. This guidance is available at the following links: Green space access: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-advice-on-accessing-green-spaces-safely The Countryside Code: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-countryside-code/the-countryside-code

Mink: Coronavirus

Luke Pollard: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the risks to (a) human and (b) animal health from covid-19 in mink fur farms.

Victoria Prentis: We are monitoring the situation carefully and have been in touch with the Dutch Authorities. The Fur Farming (Prohibition) Act was passed in England and Wales in 2000, with Sections 1 to 4 of the Act coming into force on 1 January 2003. Fur Farming was banned in 2002 in Northern Ireland and 2003 in Scotland, although there were no fur farms in either to ban at the time of these acts. There are no mink farms existing in the UK. The risk to the UK population from these outbreaks is therefore negligible and the Dutch government is taking action on those farms that have been affected.Nevertheless, we are keeping a close eye on the findings that mink can effectively maintain the virus which causes COVID-19.

Mink: Coronavirus

Luke Pollard: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he plans to take to protect human and animal health following the publication of findings by the Dutch Government that mink fur farms could act as a long-term reservoir of covid-19.

Victoria Prentis: We are monitoring the situation carefully and have been in touch with the Dutch Authorities. The Fur Farming (Prohibition) Act was passed in England and Wales in 2000, with Sections 1 to 4 of the Act coming into force on 1 January 2003. Fur Farming was banned in 2002 in Northern Ireland and 2003 in Scotland, although there were no fur farms in either to ban at the time of these acts. There are no mink farms existing in the UK. The risk to the UK population from these outbreaks is therefore negligible and the Dutch government is taking action on those farms that have been affected.Nevertheless, we are keeping a close eye on the findings that mink can effectively maintain the virus which causes COVID-19.

Home Office

Ports: Coronavirus

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what criteria her Department will use to determine the lifting of covid-19 quarantine measures at UK ports of entry.

Kevin Foster: Public health will always come first. The government will carefully assess the impact of these measures in preventing transmission of coronavirus in the UK. The need for the restrictions, and the requirements imposed, will be reviewed in line with social distancing measures, currently every three weeks. The first review will be in the last week of June. The Government will consider factors such as SAGE advice, the domestic and international incidence of Covid-19, the level of infection and transmission, emerging scientific evidence for antibody and other screening methods being appropriate for international travel health measures, economic impact, and initiatives being trialled to ensure safe travel.

Migrant Camps: France

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 7 May 2020 to Question 41962 on Migrant Camps: France, what work the UK-France Migration Committee is conducting under the terms of the Sandhurst Treaty; and whether the (a) protection needs of individuals in the area and (b) improvement of reception conditions form part of discussions with the French authorities on the identification and relocation of vulnerable migrants in northern France.

Chris Philp: The UK-FR Migration Committee is responsible for overseeing cooperation between the two countries on addressing illegal migration, including oversight and implementation of the Sandhurst Treaty. The Committee currently meets remotely due to current travel restrictions, and works to address current pressures at our shared border and to agree new action where necessary. Articles 2-4 of the Sandhurst Treaty outline our joint commitment to (i) continued implementation of the Dublin process (ii) facilitating the transfer of unaccompanied minors under national relocation schemes, and (iii) improving access to French domestic asylum procedures; these topics therefore form part of the ongoing dialogue between the UK and France. As noted in the previous response, the identification and relocation of vulnerable migrants on French territory remains the domestic responsibility of the French government, who continue to work to transfer those residing in camps into reception centres.

Asylum: Linlithgow and East Falkirk

Martyn Day: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for what reasons asylum applicants who reside in Linlithgow and East Falkirk constituency who have outstanding asylum applications are not provided with a timeframe for completion of those applications.

Chris Philp: The Home Office does not provide applicants with a timeframe for completion of asylum decisions irrespective of where they reside in the UK. The Home Office is committed to ensuring that asylum claims are considered without unnecessary delay, to ensure that individuals who need protection are granted asylum as soon as possible and can start to integrate and rebuild their lives, including those granted at appeal. Where a decision on an application for asylum cannot be taken within six months of the date it was recorded, as stated in the Immigration Rules paragraph 333A, the applicant can write to the to request a time frame.

Travellers: Caravan Sites

Paul Bristow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she plans to bring forward legislative proposals to introduce a new offence of intentional trespass to tackle unlawful traveller encampments.

Kit Malthouse: Potential measures to criminalise the act of trespassing when setting up an unauthorised encampment in England and Wales were announced in the December 2019 Queen’s Speech for inclusion in the Police Powers and Protection Bill. On 5 November 2019, the Government launched a consultation seeking views on how best to strengthen police powers to tackle unauthorised encampments - https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/strengthening-police-powers-to-tackle-unauthorised-encampments. This consultation closed on the 5 March. I will announce the outcome of this consultation in due course.

Nitrous Oxide: Coronavirus

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the change in the level of the use of nitrous oxide during the covid-19 outbreak.

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the provisions available for communities to educate people on the dangers of nitrous oxide inhalation as a psychoactive substance.

Kit Malthouse: Public Health England continues to provide information on the dangers of nitrous oxide through FRANK and support in schools. FRANK, the government’s drug information and advisory website, provides information on a wide range of drugs, including advice on what to do if people are concerned about their own use of the drug, or someone else’s use. It is regularly updated in response to changing patterns of drug use and emerging information. FRANK also signposts users to support services and provides a 24 hour free-to-use confidential helpline, text and email message services and online chat. FRANK offers information about nitrous oxide covering the risks of use, including taking it with alcohol. FRANK receives over 500,000 visits per month with high levels of awareness and trust. User research commissioned by Public Health England has shown that 83% of 18 to 24 year old adults are aware of the site and 85% of its users trust FRANK to provide reliable information about drugs. The government is continuing to monitor the effect of Covid-19 on drug use and markets through official sources and through our partners.

Police: Protective Clothing

Abena Oppong-Asare: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to issue guidance to police forces in England and Wales on wearing PPE when coming into physical contact with members of the public; and if she will make a statement.

Kit Malthouse: The Government recognises the importance of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for all of those on the frontline and has published guidance on appropriate PPE for emergency workers, including the police. The NPCC and the College of Policing have issued operational guidance to all forces on the use of PPE tailored to their unique role to ensure officers and staff are protected sufficiently. The guidance covers how, when and what type of PPE to wear across a range of practical scenarios. The guidance is available online here: https://www.college.police.uk/What-we-do/COVID-19/Documents/Personal-Protective-Equipment-Operational-Guidance-1.pdf

Police Custody: Death

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people have died in police custody in each of the last five years, by ethnicity.

Kit Malthouse: Every death in custody is a tragedy, and we are committed to delivering meaningful and lasting change to prevent deaths in custody.The Independent Office for Police Conduct publish figures for deaths in or following police custody each year, including by ethnicity. Data for the last five years are attached.These figures cover deaths that happen whilst a person is being arrested or taken into detention, including deaths that occur in or on the way to hospital following transfer from the scene of arrest or police custody. They do not include suicides that occur after a person has been released from police custody



Table - PQ 54893 - 
(Excel SpreadSheet, 11.37 KB)

Police: Ethnic Groups

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many police officers are employed in England and Wales, by ethnicity.

Kit Malthouse: The Home Office collects and publishes data on the ethnicity of police officers in England and Wales on an annual basis. The latest available data, as at 31 March 2019, can be found in Table D2 of the published workforce statistics, available here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/831666/police-workforce-mar19-tables.odsData as at 31 March 2020 are due to be published on 30 July 2020.

Immigrants: Finance

Kate Osamor: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of the number of people with dependants under the age of 18 who have No Recourse to Public Funds attached to their immigration status.

Kate Osamor: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of the number of individuals with limited leave to remain in the UK that have no recourse to public funds attached to their immigration status.

Kate Osamor: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of the number of applicants with dependants under the age of 18 who are on the 10 year route to settlement with no recourse to public funds attached to their leave to remain application.

Kate Osamor: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether local welfare provision is classified as a public fund for immigration purposes.

Chris Philp: We do not currently have estimates of the number of migrants who are in the UK and subject to no recourse to public funds (NRPF) at any given time. Migrants coming to the UK are expected to maintain and support themselves and their families without posing a burden on the UK’s welfare system. Access to benefits and other publicly funded services reflects the strength of a migrant’s connections to the UK. The Home Office publish a range of statistics on entry clearance visas, and extensions of leave in the UK in the quarterly Immigration Statistics (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/immigration-statistics-quarterly-release). However, these do not show the number of people subject to NRPF. Local welfare provision is not classed as a public fund for immigration purposes as set out in the Immigration Rules on GOV.UK https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-index. The Home Office is working closely with other government departments to support people, including migrants with NRPF, through this pandemic. We have announced a range of measures to ensure people can stay safe and many of these are available for those with a NRPF condition, such as protection for renters from evictions, a mortgage holiday for those who need it. I can confirm the assistance being given under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and the Self-employed Income Support Scheme are not classed as public funds and are available to all those in work or self-employment respectively, including those with NRPF status and those on zero-hour contracts.  Statutory sick pay and some other work-related benefits are also not classed as public funds and so are also available to all. The Government has outlined the support available to migrants, including those with NRPF, which can be found at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-get-support-if-youre-a-migrant-living-in-the-uk.

Road Traffic Offences

Andrew Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many offences under Section 42 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 for non-compliance with Regulation 97 of the Road Vehicles Regulations 1986, have been recorded in (a) Sussex and (b) England.

Kit Malthouse: The Home Office collects and publishes data on the number of recorded Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) issued for vehicular noise offences, including a breakdown by Police Force Area. The latest available data are here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/841256/fixed-penalty-notices-police-powers-procedures-mar19-hosb2519-tables.ods The data that the Home Office holds will not cover all offences under Section 42 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 for non-compliance with Regulation 97 of the Road Vehicles Regulations 1986. Offences may be dealt with in ways other than FPNs, such as by issuing a vehicle rectification notice or through seizure of the vehicle if it has other serious defects.

Immigrants: Finance

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people in (a) England and (b) York have no recourse to public funds in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Chris Philp: The information you have requested is not assured to the standard required by ONS for publication and as it would be too costly to do so, we are unable to provide it.

Police: Racial Discrimination

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she has taken in 2020 to investigate potential institutional racism in the police.

Kit Malthouse: Racism, in any form, is abhorrent and has no place in our society. In this country, the power of the police to fulfil their duties is wholly dependent on their ability to secure public support for their actions and behaviour and to maintain public respect. Police forces that reflect the communities they serve are crucial to tackling crime and maintaining public trust and confidence in a modern diverse society. The police have worked hard to improve equality and diversity in policing - the workforce is more diverse than ever before, but there is still much more to be done. Police training has improved and professionalised, and we continue to work with the College of Policing to support forces in their efforts to address under-representation in the recruitment, retention and progression of officers, including those from BAME backgrounds. Our drive to recruit 20,000 officers over the next three years gives us a significant opportunity to attract a wide range of people into a career in policing and support the police to achieve this aim. We have also ensured that there is greater transparency and accountability in many areas of policing and continue the drive for improvements. If there is a death or serious injury following contact with the police, or if there are allegations of racially aggravated misconduct, these matters must be referred to the independent police “watchdog”, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). In February of this year, the Government implemented reforms to provide the IOPC with a power to investigate serious police conduct matters on its own initiative. However, we know that we cannot be complacent and we continue to work across policing to ensure that those we trust to protect us meet the high standards of professional conduct expected by the public.

Police Custody: Death

Sir Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will investigate the number of BAME deaths in custody where restraint was used in the last 15 years; and what assessment she has made of the accuracy of the Report of the Independent Review of Deaths and Serious Incidents in Police Custody which notes that every prosecution over a death in custody in the past 15 years has ended in acquittal.

Kit Malthouse: Every death in custody is a tragedy, and we are committed to delivering meaningful and lasting change to prevent deaths in custody.The Independent Office for Police Conduct publish figures for deaths in or following police custody each year. Prior to 2018/19 the data includes ethnicity but does not state whether restraint was used.In 2018/19, there were 16 deaths in custody, of whom 15 individuals were white and one was black. Six of these 16 individuals had some force used against them either by officers or members of the public before their deaths, although this use of force did not necessarily contribute to their deaths. All six people were white.The Ministerial Board on Deaths in Custody will continue to oversee and drive progress in response to the independent review. This includes ongoing work to make police procedures more accountable following a death in custody as part of a wider package of police integrity reforms.

Wales Office

Coronavirus: Wales

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what assessment he has made of the effect of the different approaches of the UK and Welsh Governments to tackling covid-19 on the health of people in (a) Shrewsbury and (b) other border communities; and if he will work with his Welsh counterpart to improve co-ordination on covid-19 between the two Administrations.

Simon Hart: The UK Government is doing whatever it takes to ensure the UK defeats Coronavirus and I have regular discussions with the First Minister and his Ministerial team on the UK-wide response, including the impact of Covid-19 on border communities. I consider it crucial that any differences in the response between Wales and England is supported by robust evidence. Since the start of the outbreak, including through the COBR Ministerial Committee and the Ministerial Implementation Groups, there have been 116 engagements in total between the UK and Welsh Government. I am, of course, always looking for opportunities for closer working between the two governments and have asked the First Minister to consider inviting the Parliamentary Under-Secretary or me to attend meetings of the Welsh Government’s Covid-19 Core Ministerial Group.

Scotland Office

Domestic Visits: Linlithgow and East Falkirk

Martyn Day: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many times he has visited Linlithgow and East Falkirk constituency in an official capacity since assuming office.

Mr Alister Jack: I have not yet visited Linlithgow and East Falkirk constituency in my capacity as Secretary of State for Scotland.

Fisheries: Scotland

Andrew Bowie: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what steps his Department has taken with other Government Departments to develop UK fishing policy for when the transition period ends.

David Duguid: Under the devolution settlement, fisheries policy is largely a devolved matter, however, I and my Department are in regular contact with Defra and other government departments to ensure that Scottish fishing interests have been and continue to be clearly represented. The Transition Period will not be extended. At the end of this year, for the first time in 40 years, we will be free to decide who can access our waters and on what terms.

Fisheries: Scotland

Andrew Bowie: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what steps officials in his Department have taken with officials in (a) other Government departments and (b) the Scottish Government to ensure that Fisheries Protection Scotland is fully prepared to prevent illegal incursions into UK waters around Scotland after the UK has left the Common Fisheries Policy.

David Duguid: Fisheries protection and enforcement is a devolved matter in Scotland but the UK Government is very aware that its effectiveness is dependent upon close cooperation between the fisheries protection and other maritime security functions of the UK Government, the Scottish Government, the Welsh Government and the NI Executive. Officials in the Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland have helped facilitate that close cooperation.

Armed Forces: Scotland

Andrew Bowie: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what discussions his Department has had with the Ministry of Defence on ensuring there is no further reduction of the military footprint in Scotland.

Mr Alister Jack: I and my officials are in regular contact with the Ministry of Defence to discuss the military footprint in Scotland. I am pleased that RAF Lossiemouth and Faslane are collectively receiving around £1.5bn of investment which demonstrates the UK Government’s long term commitment to having a significant military presence in Scotland.

Scotland Office: Buildings

Rachel Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to the Answer on 15 May 2020 to Question 43779 on Civil Servants, at how many multi-hub locations employees of his Department work together with employees of another Department or agency in London managed by the Government Property Agency; what the addresses are of those locations; and what other Departments and agencies employ staff at those locations.

Mr Alister Jack: I refer the Hon. Member to the answer given by the Minister for the Cabinet Office on 12 June 2020 (UIN 54314).

Domestic Visits: Linlithgow and East Falkirk

Martyn Day: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, when he next plans to visit Linlithgow and East Falkirk constituency.

Mr Alister Jack: I currently have no plans to visit Linlithgow and East Falkirk in my capacity as Secretary of State for Scotland. I would consider any invitation from the Hon. Member to visit the Linlithgow and East Falkirk constituency very carefully at the appropriate time.

Cabinet Office

Prime Minister: Nurseries

Alison Thewliss: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what emergency childcare provision is available to staff working in 10 Downing Street.

Chloe Smith: 10 Downing Street is an integral part of the Cabinet Office. All Civil Servants that work at the Cabinet Office are able to access parental support policies, such as Parental Leave and Flexible Working.With due consideration to COVID-19, Civil Servants are able to manage childcare arrangements with the support of paid special leave and flexible working, where alternative provisions cannot be found.

Cabinet Office: ICT

Martyn Day: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps his Department is taking to (a) reduce the amount of manual processing on paper it carries out and (b) make those processes digital.

Chloe Smith: The Cabinet Office does not carry out significant manual processing on paper.

Newspaper Press: Advertising

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much public health and NHS advertising has been placed with (a) members of the Independent Community News Network and (b) other news providers since 23 March 2020.

Chloe Smith: I refer the Hon. Member to the answer given to PQ 46692 on 29 May 2020.

Capital Investment: Linlithgow and East Falkirk

Martyn Day: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much Government investment has been made in Linlithgow and East Falkirk constituency in each year since 2010.

Chloe Smith: The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. I have therefore asked the Authority to respond.



UKSA Response 
(PDF Document, 63.35 KB)

Black Lives Matter: Publicity

Owen Thompson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps the Government is taking to raise awareness of the Black Lives Matter movement.

Chloe Smith: I refer the Hon Member to the statement of 8 June by my Rt Hon Friend the Prime Minister, published on GOV.UK:https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/prime-minister-message-on-black-lives-matter

Care Homes: Kingston upon Hull

Dame Diana Johnson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many covid-19 deaths have been recorded in care homes in Hull since the start of the outbreak.

Chloe Smith: The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. I have therefore asked the Authority to respond.



UKSA Response 
(PDF Document, 79.11 KB)

Cabinet Office: Buildings

Rachel Hopkins: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer on 15 May 2020 to Question 43779 on Civil Servants, at how many multi-hub locations employees of his Department work together with employees of another Department or agency in London managed by the Government Property Agency; what the addresses are of those locations; and what other Departments and agencies employ staff at those locations.

Chloe Smith: Supporting the Government’s objective to provide great places to work, enabling co-working through the Hub’s agenda and driving efficiencies by minimising vacant accommodation, the Government Property Agency manages a number of multi-let properties on the Whitehall Estate.Details of multi-hub locations in London occupied by Cabinet Office, together with other Departments and agencies, are provided in the attached schedule. 



GPA multi-hub locations
(PDF Document, 37.97 KB)

Dominic Cummings

Stephen Farry: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, to whom did Dominic Cummings report to in his role as Special Adviser during the period when the Prime Minister was incapacitated with covid-19.

Chloe Smith: The Prime Minister was still in office; special advisers stayed in post, and remained accountable to their appointing Minister.

Debts: Young People

Martyn Day: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what information his Department holds on the average debt of people aged 18 to 25 in (a) the UK, (b) Scotland and c) Linlithgow and East Falkirk constituency.

Chloe Smith: The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. I have therefore asked the Authority to respond.



UKSA Response 
(PDF Document, 82.82 KB)

EU Nationals: Linlithgow and East Falkirk

Martyn Day: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many EU nationals are resident in Linlithgow and East Falkirk constituency.

Chloe Smith: The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. I have therefore asked the Authority to respond.



UKSA Response 
(PDF Document, 63.25 KB)

Registration of Births, Deaths, Marriages and Civil Partnerships

Nick Fletcher: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what discussions he has had Cabinet colleagues on allowing registry office ceremonies to resume by 2 July 2020.

Sajid Javid: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what recent discussions he has had with representatives of the weddings industry on the timescale for easing covid-19 restrictions to allow small weddings to take place.

Penny Mordaunt: Further to the answer given to PQs 54003, 54280 and 54102 on 8 June 2020, the Government understands the huge significance of weddings to couples planning to get married. We are working to ease restrictions safely to enable weddings to take place.

Elections: Voting Methods

Martyn Day: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will make it his policy to introduce the option of advance physical voting at elections.

Chloe Smith: There are no plans to make such a provision.

Coronavirus: Death

Stuart Anderson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what plans he has in place to estimate the proportion of people who have passed away from covid-19 compared with other primary causes.

Chloe Smith: The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. I have therefore asked the Authority to respond.



UKSA Response
(PDF Document, 122.8 KB)

Coronavirus: Death

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will publish (a) the (i) number and (ii) type of underlying health conditions among and (b) the socio-economic status of people who have died from covid-19.

Chloe Smith: The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. I have therefore asked the Authority to respond.



UKSA Response 
(PDF Document, 87.32 KB)

Self-employed: Linlithgow and East Falkirk

Martyn Day: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many people declared themselves as self-employed in each of the last three years in Linlithgow and East Falkirk.

Chloe Smith: The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. I have therefore asked the Authority to respond.



UKSA Response
(PDF Document, 63.79 KB)

Working Hours

Martyn Day: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate he has made of the number of people in employment which primarily requires working at night in (a) Linlithgow and East Falkirk constituency, (b) Scotland and (c) the UK in the last 12 months.

Chloe Smith: The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. I have therefore asked the Authority to respond.



UKSA Response
(PDF Document, 63.75 KB)

Debts

Martyn Day: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate he has made of household debt in (a) Linlithgow and East Falkirk constituency, (b) Scotland and (c) the UK in each year since 2015.

Chloe Smith: The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. I have therefore asked the Authority to respond.



UKSA Response
(PDF Document, 74.89 KB)

Low Pay: Linlithgow and East Falkirk

Martyn Day: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many (a) women and (b) men working in Linlithgow and East Falkirk constituency earn less than £10 per hour.

Chloe Smith: The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. I have therefore asked the Authority to respond.



UKSA Response 
(PDF Document, 70.86 KB)

Employment: Linlithgow and East Falkirk

Martyn Day: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate he has made of the number of people in Linlithgow and East Falkirk constituency in employment who are aged between (a) 50 to 59, (b) 60 to 69 and (c) over 70 years old.

Chloe Smith: The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. I have therefore asked the Authority to respond.



UKSA Response
(PDF Document, 83.36 KB)

Treasury

Gift Aid: Linlithgow and East Falkirk

Martyn Day: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many charities registered in Linlithgow and East Falkirk constituency have claimed back Gift Aid on small cash donations using the Gift Aid Small Donation Scheme since that scheme's inception.

Kemi Badenoch: The information requested is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Food: Wholesale Trade

Tracey Crouch: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he plans to make food and drink wholesalers who supply to care homes, hospitals and schools eligible for the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant.

Kemi Badenoch: The Government recognises that this is a very challenging time for businesses in a wide variety of sectors. Small businesses occupying properties for retail, hospitality or leisure purposes are likely to be particularly affected by COVID-19 due to their reliance on customer footfall, and the fact that they are less likely than larger businesses to have sufficient cash reserves to meet their high fixed property-related costs. The Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund (RHLGF) is intended to help small businesses in this situation. Local Authorities (LAs) can choose to make discretionary grants to businesses in other supply chains, like the wholesale food and drink sector, if they feel there is a particular local economic need. The Government has allocated up to an additional £617 million to LAs to enable them to give discretionary grants to businesses in this situation. LAs may choose to focus payments on those priority groups which are most relevant to their local areas or to businesses outside of these priority groups, so long as the business was trading on 11th March, and has not received any other cash grant funded by central Government. Small businesses which are not eligible for business grants should still be able to benefit from other elements of the Government’s unprecedented package of support for business. The Business Support website provides further information about how businesses can access the support that has been made available, who is eligible, when the schemes open and how to apply - https://www.gov.uk/business-coronavirus-support-finder.

Treasury: Buildings

Rachel Hopkins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer on 15 May 2020 to Question 43779 on Civil Servants, at how many multi-hub locations employees of his Department work together with employees of another Department or agency in London managed by the Government Property Agency; what the addresses are of those locations; and what other Departments and agencies employ staff at those locations.

Kemi Badenoch: I refer the Hon. member to the answer given to PQ 54314 on 12 June 2020.

Food: Wholesale Trade

Bob Blackman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will extend the application of the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund to the wholesale food and drink sector.

Kemi Badenoch: The Government recognises that this is a very challenging time for businesses in a wide variety of sectors. Small businesses occupying properties for retail, hospitality or leisure purposes are likely to be particularly affected by COVID-19 due to their reliance on customer footfall, and the fact that they are less likely than larger businesses to have sufficient cash reserves to meet their high fixed property-related costs. The Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund (RHLGF) is intended to help small businesses in this situation. Local Authorities (LAs) can choose to make discretionary grants to businesses in other supply chains, like the wholesale food and drink sector, if they feel there is a particular local economic need. The Government has allocated up to an additional £617 million to LAs to enable them to give discretionary grants to businesses in this situation. LAs may choose to focus payments on those priority groups which are most relevant to their local areas or to businesses outside of these priority groups, so long as the business was trading on 11th March, and has not received any other cash grant funded by central Government. Small businesses which are not eligible for business grants should still be able to benefit from other elements of the Government’s unprecedented package of support for business. The Business Support website provides further information about how businesses can access the support that has been made available, who is eligible, when the schemes open and how to apply - https://www.gov.uk/business-coronavirus-support-finder.

Food: Wholesale Trade

John McDonnell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will extend the hospitality, retail and leisure grants to the wholesale food and drink sector.

Kemi Badenoch: The Government recognises that this is a very challenging time for businesses in a wide variety of sectors. Small businesses occupying properties for retail, hospitality or leisure purposes are likely to be particularly affected by COVID-19 due to their reliance on customer footfall, and the fact that they are less likely than larger businesses to have sufficient cash reserves to meet their high fixed property-related costs. The Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund (RHLGF) is intended to help small businesses in this situation. Local Authorities (LAs) can choose to make discretionary grants to businesses in other supply chains, like the wholesale food and drink sector, if they feel there is a particular local economic need. The Government has allocated up to an additional £617 million to LAs to enable them to give discretionary grants to businesses in this situation. LAs may choose to focus payments on those priority groups which are most relevant to their local areas or to businesses outside of these priority groups, so long as the business was trading on 11th March, and has not received any other cash grant funded by central Government. Small businesses which are not eligible for business grants should still be able to benefit from other elements of the Government’s unprecedented package of support for business. The Business Support website provides further information about how businesses can access the support that has been made available, who is eligible, when the schemes open and how to apply - https://www.gov.uk/business-coronavirus-support-finder.

Hydrogen

Alexander Stafford: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on opportunities for economic growth in the UK’s hydrogen economy throughout the UK.

Kemi Badenoch: The Government continues to take its environmental responsibilities very seriously. We are committed to meeting our climate change targets, including net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Hydrogen could be an important part of the transition to net zero. We are investing in innovation, providing up to £121m to support a range of projects to explore and develop the potential of low carbon hydrogen. This includes production, storage and end use in heat, industry and transport. In 2019 the Government published a consultation on business models for Carbon Capture and Storage, which sought views on support for low-carbon hydrogen. The response to the consultation will be published in due course.

Hydrogen

Alexander Stafford: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential for green hydrogen industries to help contribute to the UK’s economic recovery in the aftermath of the covid-19 outbreak.

Kemi Badenoch: The Coronavirus is the biggest threat this country has faced in decades. Alongside the focus on supporting the economy, the Government continues to take its environmental responsibilities very seriously. Hydrogen could be an important part of the transition to net zero and has the potential to help the economy recovery in a stronger, cleaner, more sustainable way. We are investing in innovation, providing up to £121m to support a range of projects to explore and develop the potential of low carbon hydrogen. This includes production, storage and end use in heat, industry and transport. In 2019 the Government published a consultation on business models for Carbon Capture and Storage, which sought views on support for low-carbon hydrogen. The response to the consultation will be published in due course.

Health: Charities

Amy Callaghan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the £22 million in cash grants awarded by the Government to health charities as a result of the covid-19 outbreak, what assessment his Department made of the (a) funding needs of those charities and (b) effectiveness of the services those charities provide prior to that award; and what criteria the Government used to determine which charities should receive grants.

Kemi Badenoch: The Government has set out a £750 million package of support for charities providing key services and supporting vulnerable people during the COVID-19 crisis. This will enable such organisations to continue providing essential services to those most in need. Part of the funding for charities is being disbursed with £360 million directly allocated by government departments. The most up to date information is available at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-for-the-charity-sector#government-financial-support-for-charities. Our aim is to get funding to those in greatest need as soon as possible. These services have never been more needed than they are now, especially health charities. The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) is responsible for allocating funding to health charities and making decisions about the criteria and effectiveness of the services they are funding. Further details about the £22 million awarded to this sector and the types or organisations supported is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/22-million-awarded-to-life-saving-health-charities-during-virus-outbreak.

VAT: Arrears

Martyn Day: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the total value of VAT arrears owed for more than 12 months is in (a) Linlithgow and East Falkirk constituency, (b) Scotland and (c) the UK.

Jesse Norman: As of the end of May 2020, the UK VAT debt balance for debts aged more than 12 months is £1,351m. The information is not readily available for Linlithgow and East Falkirk constituency or Scotland, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Small Business Grants Fund: Day Care

Nick Fletcher: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to ensure that children's care facilities can benefit from the Small Business Grant fund administered by local authorities.

Kemi Badenoch: Children’s care facilities in England which were in receipt of small business rate relief (SBRR) or rural rate relief (RRR) as of 11th March are eligible for the small business grant funding (SBGF) of £10,000. Nurseries occupied by providers on Ofsted’s Early Years Register and wholly or mainly used for the provision of the Early Years Foundation Stage may also benefit from the 12-month business rates relief holiday. Children’s care facilities may also benefit from a range of other business support measures. The Business Support website provides further information about how businesses can access the support that has been made available, who is eligible and how to apply - https://www.gov.uk/business-coronavirus-support-finder.

Hydrogen

Alex Sobel: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential economic effect on UK industry of EU plans for large-scale investment in green hydrogen.

Kemi Badenoch: The Government continues to take its environmental responsibilities very seriously and welcomes international efforts to invest in technologies that will be needed to decarbonise the energy used in our economies. We remain committed to our net zero target, and hydrogen could be an important part of the transition. We are investing in innovation, providing up to £121m to support a range of projects to explore and develop the potential of low carbon hydrogen. This includes production, storage and end use in heat, industry and transport.

Public Expenditure: Scotland

David Mundell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the timeframe is for renegotiating the fiscal framework with the Scottish Government.

Steve Barclay: The Scottish Government’s fiscal framework sets out the timeline for its review. An independent panel jointly commissioned by the UK and Scottish governments will report by the end of 2021. This will inform negotiations between the UK and Scottish governments that will conclude by the end of 2022.

Taxation: Coronavirus

Mr Steve Baker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment he has made of the potential merits of reducing (a) VAT, (B) national insurance contributions, (c) income tax, (d) corporation tax, (e) Stamp Duty Land Tax and (f) other taxes to contribute to the UK's economic recovery after the covid-19 outbreak; and if he will make a statement.

Jesse Norman: The Treasury has taken unprecedented steps to keep as many people in their existing jobs, support viable businesses to stay afloat and protect the incomes of the most vulnerable. These measures have been on a scale unmatched by any government in recent history. As the Chancellor has said, a new national collective effort has begun: to reopen the country and kickstart the economy. As part of this, the Treasury is keeping all taxes under review. The Chancellor will update Parliament at the appropriate time.

Off-payroll Working

Sir Paul Beresford: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent estimate he has made of the number of workers who only hold contracts covered by the off payroll working rules.

Jesse Norman: The Tax Information and Impact Note (TIIN) published in July 2019 sets out that HMRC estimate that 170,000 individuals working through their own company, who would be employed if engaged directly, would be subject to the off-payroll working rules. Individuals may have multiple engagements through their own company, with some engagements subject to the off-payroll working rules and some not. Those who are complying with the existing rules should experience little impact. The TIIN can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/rules-for-off-payroll-working-from-april-2020/rules-for-off-payroll-working-from-april-2020. The impact of the delay to the changes of the off-payroll working rules will be published at the next fiscal event and will be subject to the scrutiny of the Office for Budget Responsibility.

Food: Wholesale Trade

Kate Hollern: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will extend the application of business rates relief to food and drink wholesalers.

Tim Loughton: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will extend the application of business rates relief to food and drink wholesalers.

Neil Parish: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will extend the application of business rates relief to food and drink wholesalers.

Jesse Norman: The Government has provided enhanced support through business rates relief to businesses occupying properties used for retail, hospitality and leisure given the direct and acute impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on those sectors. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has published guidance for local authorities on eligible properties. As set out in the guidance, support is targeted at premises that are wholly or mainly being used as shops, restaurants, cafes, drinking establishments, cinemas and live music venues; for assembly and leisure; or as hotels, guest and boarding premises, and self-catering accommodation. It is for local authorities to determine eligibility for reliefs, having regard to guidance issued by the Government. A range of further measures to support all businesses, including those not eligible for the business rates holiday, such as wholesalers, has also been made available.

Supermarkets: Coronavirus

Naz Shah: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether supermarkets that remain open during the covid-19 outbreak have been provided with business rates relief.

Jesse Norman: On 17 March the Chancellor announced a business rates holiday for businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors, irrespective of rateable value, so that all eligible businesses will pay no business rates for 12 months. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has published guidance for local authorities on eligibility of the business rates holiday for the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors, which included supermarkets.

Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme

Seema Malhotra: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to ensure that people (a) who are shielding, (b) who live with people who are shielding and (c) identified as clinically vulnerable during the covid-19 outbreak but are not shielding are furloughed by employers where that is an option.

Vicky Foxcroft: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps the Government is taking to ensure that people who (a) are shielding, (b) live with people who are shielding and (c) are clinically vulnerable but are not shielding are offered furlough during the covid-19 outbreak.

Jesse Norman: Employees who are unable to work because they are shielding in line with public health guidance, or who need to stay home with someone who is shielding, can be furloughed under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS). Those who are clinically vulnerable but not shielding are eligible for furlough on the same grounds as other employees. Any decision to access the CJRS is at the employer’s discretion.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

Broadband: Standards

John Nicolson: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether he plans to publish further details on how the Government will achieve its target Gigabit-capable connectivity for all by 2025; and if he will make a statement.

Matt Warman: The Government is committed to delivering nationwide coverage of gigabit capable broadband as soon as possible and believes that the best way to do this is to promote network competition and commercial investment wherever possible, and to intervene with public subsidy where necessary. The Government is taking action to remove barriers to commercial deployment including, for example, through the Telecommunications Infrastructure (Leasehold) Property Bill, which will make it easier to connect tenanted properties with an unresponsive landlord. We are also committed to legislating to mandate gigabit connectivity in new build homes. For harder to reach areas, we have committed to invest a record £5 billion to support gigabit capable broadband deployment. We will be publishing more details in due course.

Small Businesses: Cybercrime

Martyn Day: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps his Department is taking to help small and medium-sized enterprises protect themselves against cyber-attack.

Matt Warman: Through the National Cyber Security Strategy the Government is helping small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across the economy and society improve their digital security. The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) works closely with the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) to help SMEs protect themselves, including promoting the uptake of the Cyber Essentials scheme through engagement with industry sectors and via police Regional Organised Crime Units, which engage with businesses locally. The Cyber Aware campaign encourages the public and small businesses to take up secure online behaviours, including signposting businesses to guidance, such as the Small Business Guide, which helps firms protect themselves from the most common cyber attacks. The NCSC has also published a suite of guidance on home-working and digital business operations to support SMEs during the Covid-19 outbreak. DCMS also is making sure SMEs have access to the skilled people they need, and the NCSC offers a free online training package, Top Tips for Staff.

Broadband: Voucher Schemes

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of the gigabit broadband voucher scheme in each region of the UK.

Matt Warman: To date the Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme (the Scheme) has connected 25,394 homes and small businesses with a further 18,324 already in the pipeline. Vouchers have been issued to premises across each nation and region of the United Kingdom using funding from the Local Full Fibre Networks (LFFN) programme and the Rural Gigabit Connectivity (RGC) programme. Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK), who administer the Scheme, work with local bodies and devolved administrations in the UK to ensure that every region has oversight of the Scheme in their area. On 14 May 2020 we announced that we would no longer accept any new voucher requests associated with the LFFN funded part of the Scheme because the £68.5m of available budget had been fully committed - 10 months sooner than expected - such has been the huge popularity of the scheme. Suppliers have 12 months to complete a connection from the point at which a voucher is issued therefore the final connection is not expected until May 2021. A full benefits and evaluation analysis will be completed after the final connection has been made. In this financial year, £71m of funding remains available for the RGC funded part of the scheme. We expect to continue to be able to accept requests and issue vouchers for eligible rural premises until 31 March 2021 with connections being made up until March 2022. Similarly, a full benefits and evaluation analysis will be completed after the final connection has been made.

Leisure and Sports: Coronavirus

Sir Mike Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what guidance his Department has issued to indoor sports and leisure activity providers on the safe reopening of instructing facilities for (a) snow sports and (b) indoor rock-climbing during the covid-19 outbreak; and if he will make a statement.

Nigel Huddleston: There is no requirement under the terms of the Public Statues (Metropolis) Act 1854 to obtain the consent of the Secretary of State before the removal of sculptures erected in London.

Poverty: Coronavirus

Nadia Whittome: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps his Department is taking to support child poverty charities working in BAME communities during the covid-19 outbreak.

Mr John Whittingdale: The Government has announced a broad package of support for businesses and charities to ensure that organisations that need support are able to access it. This includes the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme, and the option to defer VAT payments due between 20 March and 30 June 2020. In addition, on 8 April the Government announced a £750 million funding package to ensure charities providing frontline services to vulnerable people affected by the pandemic can continue their vital work. Of this, £360 million was to be allocated to individual government departments based on evidence of service need. This funding has now been allocated to government departments, who are using a range of approaches to award funding either directly to charities or through bidding processes. As part of this package, the Department for Education will provide £26.4 million to support vulnerable children in England. £370 million has been allocated to support small and medium sized charities during the pandemic. This includes £60 million funding through the Barnett formula to support charities in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Of the £310 million to be spent in England, £200 million has been distributed to the National Lottery Community Fund to award grants through the Coronavirus Community Support Fund. Applications for this fund opened on 22 May and the National Lottery Community Fund is assessing applications in the order in which they are received, in order to award grants as quickly as possible. Child poverty charities working with BAME communities during the Covid-19 outbreak are eligible to apply for this funding.

Football: Sportsgrounds

Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions the Government has had with partners of the Football Foundation on that organisation's plans for a 25-year programme to deliver new astroturf and grass pitches across the country.

Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what methodology the Government plans to use to assess which areas of the country would most benefit from funding in grassroots football as part of the pledge to spend £550 million revamping community football pitches.

Nigel Huddleston: The Government is committed to supporting grassroots football. The established partnership with the Football Association and the Premier League sees a combined £70m go to new facilities delivered by the Football Foundation. All funding parties are represented on the Football Foundation board. Government has committed to investing a further £550m into grassroots football facilities over the next 10 years to support plans to bid for the 2030 Men’s FIFA Football World Cup. The FA has produced, in partnership with the Premier League, Sport England and DCMS, the 'National Football Facilities Strategy' (NFSS), which is a coherent overarching shared strategy for capital investment in football over the next ten years. This sets out the football facility requirements across the country and the intention to invest in 20,000 improved grass pitches and 1,000 3G facilities. The Foundation has coverage across the whole country with funding reaching 98% of all local authorities and boroughs in England so far. As part of the NFFS, a 'Local Football Facilities Plan' is being produced for every Local Authority across the country to create a tailored local investment plan. This will help the Football Foundation prioritise its investment most efficiently and effectively.